Key Facts
• Deaflympics, an international sports event for the hearing impaired, began in 1924.
• Tokyo will host the Deaflympics for the first time in November 2025.
• Approximately 6,000 participants from 80 countries and regions are expected.
• Kiyotaka Tezuka, 38, represents Japan in men’s basketball, aiming for his first medal.
• Tezuka, born with severe hearing loss, plays with amateur teams in Hokkaido.
• Ami Kimura, 27, from Otaru, competes in table tennis and has won multiple medals.
• Kimura uses a cochlear implant but removes it during matches as per rules.
• Visual aids like lamps and flags are used in Deaflympics to ensure fairness.
• Tezuka communicates with teammates using hand signals and visual cues.
• Kimura emphasizes visual observation to compensate for the lack of auditory input.
• Both athletes aim to inspire children with hearing impairments through their efforts.
• Tezuka’s wife, a former Deaflympics badminton gold medalist, supports his journey.
• Kimura won two gold medals at the 2023 World Championships in team and doubles events.
• The Deaflympics prohibits hearing aids to ensure equal conditions for all athletes.
Summary
The Deaflympics, an international sports event for hearing-impaired athletes, will be held in Tokyo for the first time in November 2025, marking its 100th anniversary. Approximately 6,000 participants from 80 countries and regions are expected. Japanese athletes Kiyotaka Tezuka and Ami Kimura are preparing to compete on this global stage. Tezuka, a 38-year-old basketball player with severe hearing loss, aims to win his first medal in his fourth Deaflympics appearance. Kimura, a 27-year-old table tennis player from Otaru, has already secured multiple medals, including two golds at the 2023 World Championships. Both athletes rely on visual communication methods, such as hand signals and written instructions, to overcome auditory challenges. The Deaflympics enforces rules prohibiting hearing aids to ensure fairness, while visual aids like lamps and flags are used during competitions. Tezuka and Kimura hope to inspire children with hearing impairments and promote inclusivity in sports. Their dedication highlights the importance of perseverance and the potential for sports to foster a barrier-free society.
