Aiming for Games made by everyone

Deaflympics Preparation and Operation Office,
Tokyo Sport Benefits Corporation, a public interest incorporated foundation

Overview of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics

Official name: 25th Summer Deaflympics Tokyo 2025
Duration: Saturday, 15 November – Wednesday, 26 November, 2025
Venue information: held in Tokyo, Fukushima, and Shizuoka
Participating countries: 70 – 80 countries and regions
Number of athletes: around 3,000
Number of events held: 21 events, all free to watch

At the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, which will be held this November, we are aiming for Games made by everyone, through the understanding and participation of many of the citizens of Tokyo and of Japan.
As one aspect of this, the design of the medals which will be given to all the medallists at these Games was chosen through a nationwide vote by 80,543 elementary, junior and senior high school students (or those of equivalent age) between 1 September and 14 October, 2024. A deep blue-green called “iron blue,” a colour loved by the people of the Edo Period, has been used for the medal ribbons. The pattern of the ribbons combines traditional Japanese motifs.

On the front of the medals is a picture of a crane made from origami. This design expresses the wish that the athletes will spread their wings wide and succeed. Traditional Japanese motifs said to be auspicious have also been used. The design on the reverse shows many intertwined threads, expressing connections with people from around the world.

Comments from the children who voted included “I think that medals with a design of a paper crane, part of Japanese culture, are uniquely Japanese and will make a lasting impression on athletes from overseas; the patterns and colours are also traditionally Japanese, so I think they will be able to communicate the message;” and “Paper cranes are made by hand, and so I felt that they emphasised ‘hands,’ which are important means of communication for Deaf people.”

Please come to the event venues and see the moment when these medals, with their design chosen by children, are handed to the athletes!

About 3,000 people from countries around the world will participate in the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, making them an international sporting event at which heated battles play out. The Games are free to watch.All the events will be livestreamed on the official YouTube channel of the Games.

Let’s support the competing athletes at the venues and from our homes!