Sports broadcasters and technologists are reshaping how games are experienced by deaf and hard-of-hearing fans, using innovations like vibration technology, visual cues, and enhanced captions to turn sound into something that can be seen and felt rather than just heard.

New technologies tested at the Deaflympics in Tokyo are creating ways of experiencing the atmosphere at sporting events.

For fans of sport the experience is as much about the atmosphere – the sights, smells and sounds – as the drama unfolding in front of them.

Think about the crack of a bat the blast of a whistle thump of a ball and the roar of the crowd. Would there be something missing without them? At the Deaflympics in Tokyo in November 2025 sound has been reimagined to ensure no-one misses out.

Filming recently for BBC TechXplore I learned that at the Deaflympics sound doesn't have to be something you hear. It can be something you see. Something you feel. Sometimes something you hold.

The Deaflympics has been around for than a century. It is the competition for deaf athletes. Now it is also a place where engineers, designers and deaf users work together to change how sport is experienced.

* On-screen onomatopoeia

* AI-powered announcements

* Vibrations in the audience

These are some of the technologies being tested at the Deaflympics in Tokyo. They give a glimpse of a future where sound's not just for those who can hear.

### Seeing Sound

Inside the table tennis arena I felt the excitement in the air as fans cheered for Japan.. Instead of focusing on the ball deaf spectators looked up.

Above the court big animated graphics flashed on a screen. They showed onomatopoeic words that matched the rhythm of play. Each hit was matched with characters that showed effects – like the ball hitting, the speed of the game and the power of a smash.

Onomatopoeia – words that imitate sounds – is important in culture. It is used in manga and media. At the Deaflympics it helps deaf fans understand the game.

Ito Maki from Japans Deaf Table Tennis Association said, "I used to play table tennis so I like to watch the matches.. For people who don't play or who are deaf this helps them understand better."

### Onomatopoeia in Other Areas

The Deaflympics had 19 venues in and around Tokyo. Thousands of visitors helped test new technologies.

* I tried Toppans screens at 19 Toei Metro stations. They translate sound to text.

* This helps deaf and hearing visitors whether they speak Japanese or not.

At Deaflympics Square I saw an AI-powered display made by Fujitsu. It listens to announcements, trains and music. It turns them into text. Sign language.

Onomatopoeia is used again. Certain sounds are shown visually to convey urgency, movement or emotion.

This device was made with the community, including kids from Kawasaki Municipal School for the Deaf.

### Feeling Sound

At Tokyo Budokan spectators wore vibration devices made by Hapbeat. They capture the sound of judo fighters. Turn it into vibrations.

Fans do not just watch a match – they feel it.

Deaf judo fan Eri Terada said, "When someone was thrown it was a thud. Each one was different. I thought, 'Wow – this is amazing. It's so easy to understand.'"

The device also gives cues like the start and end of bouts.

### A New Future, for Sound

The Deaflympics shows that shared experiences can be universal. With deaf users it is a great place to test and improve accessible technology.