Be Part of the European Deaf Youth Games 2026

The countdown has begun for the first-ever European Deaf Youth Games (EDYG), taking place from 17–23 August 2026 in Hanover, Germany.

Hosted by the German Deaf Sports Federation, this exciting international event will bring together young deaf athletes from across Europe for a week of competition and celebration of sport. Among the wide range of sports featured — from athletics and swimming to basketball, futsal, karate, and more — judo will play a central role.

Competitions will be staged in two age groups: U17 (born 2010–2012) and U19 (born 2008–2009). For the UK, and British Judo in particular, this is a unique chance to discover and support young deaf judoka who may already be training in clubs and competing around the country but have not yet had an opportunity to showcase their talent internationally.

The Games represent more than a one-off competition. For UK Deaf Sport, the long-term vision is to build pathways in combat sports leading towards the 2029 Deaflympics, and the EDYG could mark the beginning of that journey. It also compliments our wider ambition to grow participation in judo, create clear pathways for all judoka, and celebrate adaptive sport — a focus that will be highlighted further at our Adaptive Judo Conference in February 2026.

To make this possible, we are now calling for expressions of interest from judoka born between 2008 and 2012 who would like to represent the UK at EDYG 2026.

The deadline for expressions of interest is the end of October 2025. By identifying eligible athletes early, we can ensure the strongest possible team is prepared to compete on this historic stage.

If you are, or know, a deaf judoka eager to be part of this journey, now is the time to step forward. This is an incredible opportunity not just to compete, but to be part of the first chapter of a new European event that will inspire athletes for years to come.

Click here to download:

Individuals Expression of Interest

Coaches Expression of Interest

For more details about the Games, visit the official website: www.dg-sportjugend.de.

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