Overview
- Opening events and the Japanese team send-off were held Nov. 14 at the National Youth Olympic Centre, drawing about 170 athletes.
- Princess Kako attended and offered encouragement in sign language, as ICSD president Adam Cosa urged greater understanding of Deaf people and sign language.
- The 12-day competition features 21 sports and 209 events across 19 venues in Tokyo, Shizuoka and Fukushima, with 3,081 registered athletes from 81 countries and a 268-strong Japanese squad.
- Athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete as individuals, and a public Deaflympic Square will showcase Deaf culture and new accessibility technologies.
- An advance men's football match on Nov. 14 in Fukushima saw Japan defeat Australia 8–0, and events will use visual start signals and flag-based officiating with hearing aids prohibited for fairness.