TOKYO – The Tokyo Deaflympics closed Wednesday with host nation Japan finishing the games with a record 51 medals.
A ceremony was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in the capital to formally close the 12-day international sporting event for the deaf and hard of hearing, which Japan hosted for the first time in the games’ history.
The games, held with the aim of fostering a more inclusive society, involved some 3,000 athletes from about 81 countries and regions competing across 21 different events.
The Japanese delegation, comprising around 270 athletes, was represented in every event for the first time.
“The sight of the amazing performances of the deaf athletes has brought courage, inspiration and hope to people around the world,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said in her address at the ceremony.
“Deaf sports creates value, represents quality,” and shows that “nothing is impossible,” said Adam Kosa, president of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, before declaring the games closed.
Deaflympic powerhouse Ukraine again dominated the medal tally this year with 32 gold medals, followed by the United States with 17 and then Japan with 16.
Japan secured 16 gold, 12 silver and 23 bronze medals, according to the Japanese Federation of the Deaf.
Most venues were concentrated in and around the capital, while cycling was held in Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, and football was held in disaster-impacted Fukushima Prefecture in the country’s northeast to spotlight the region’s recovery.
Entrance to all venues was free for the public, with the games providing an opportunity to deepen understanding of deaf people and sign language.
AloJapan.com