AS Japan prepares to host the Deaflympics for the first time on 15-26 November in Tokyo, Adam Kosa, president of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, sees it as a pivotal moment for greater acceptance of sign language and the deaf community.
In an exclusive Kyodo News interview, Kosa, a deaf former Hungarian European Parliament member, hopes the event will drive positive changes, leading to official recognition of Japanese Sign Language.
With about 3,000 athletes from 80 countries participating — making it Asia’s second Deaflympics after Chinese Taipei in 2009 — he praised Japan’s recent legislation promoting sign language in education and daily life. Kosa highlighted historical suppression of sign language in Japan. He emphasized sign language as the deaf community’s primary tongue and noted that International Sign will facilitate communication at the games.
Kyodo
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