2025 Tokyo Deaflympics to Open on November 15... Korea to Send Largest-Ever Delegation of 174 Members

South Korea will send its largest-ever national team, consisting of 174 members, to the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics, which will open in Tokyo, Japan on November 15, 2025.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October 22, the national team is composed of 94 athletes, 43 competition officials, and 37 headquarters officials. The athletes will compete against participants from around the world in 12 sports, including athletics, judo, shooting, and tennis.

Kim Daehyun, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is delivering an encouragement speech at the "2025 Tokyo Deaflympics South Korea National Team Pledge Ceremony" held at Olympic Parktel in Seoul on the 22nd.
Photo by Yonhap News

At 2 p.m. on the same day, the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics National Team Resolution Ceremony will be held at Olympia Hall in Seoul Olympic Parktel. Kim Daehyun, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is scheduled to attend and encourage the national team of athletes with disabilities who will participate in the Deaflympics.

The Deaflympics is an Olympic-level international sporting event for the hearing impaired, organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). Like the Olympics, it is held every four years, with the Summer Games beginning in 1924 and the Winter Games starting in 1949.

About 250 people, including athletes, coaches, executives and staff of the Korea Deaf Sports Federation, and officials from the Korea Paralympic Committee, will attend the ceremony. Vice Minister Kim will present encouragement funds to the team and wish for their success and safety.

The 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics will take place from November 15 to 26, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan, featuring competitions in a total of 21 sports. This event is especially significant as it marks the 100th anniversary of the Deaflympics.

Vice Minister Kim stated, "I hope that the sweat and hard work our athletes have put in will bear fruit at this meaningful event, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Deaflympics. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to provide support so that our athletes can compete safely and fully demonstrate the skills they have honed over the years."