Participated as a volunteer to support the swimming at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
- NEWPORT Helpdesk
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, we participated as volunteers to support the men's and women's swimming finals at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics*¹. A total of nine staff members from our company, Newport Inc.—including team members who were part of the swimming club during their student days—took part in this volunteer activity.
The swimming events were held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tatsumi, Koto Ward.
Upon entering the venue from the entrance on the second floor,we received a handout explaining the “Sign Yell*²,” a method of cheering in sign language—and with that, we were all set for the day’s support.
As we stepped into the arena, the warm, humid air unique to indoor pools and the large electronic scoreboard used for the competition immediately caught our attention, heightening our anticipation for the events to begin.
At first glance, the competitions appear no different from the Olympics, but the start signal is given by light instead of a starting gun. Once the races began, we naturally shifted our energy into cheering with Sign Yell instead of using voices or applause. In the front rows of the audience were supporters who led the cheering, guiding everyone with their Sign Yell gestures.
Although we watched for only about two hours, it was a valuable opportunity to experience para sports and gain new insights.
Our company intends to continue actively participating in volunteer activities that support people in various communities.
＜Events Watched＞
Men’s:
50m Freestyle
1500m Freestyle
100m Breaststroke
200m Butterfly
4×100m Medley Relay
Women’s:
200m Freestyle
200m Backstroke
4×100m Medley Relay
What is the Deaflympics?*¹
The Deaflympics is an international multi-sport event for athletes with hearing impairments.
What is Sign Yell*²
Sign Yell is a cheering method designed for everyone to express their support for Deaf athletes. It is based on the bodily awareness of people who perceive the world visually and on Japanese Sign Language.
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