About the Games

​​​​​​​The Australian Deaf Games (ADG) is a multi-sport event that provides an opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing athletes to compete at a national level. The games are held every two years and feature a range of sports, including athletics, basketball, football (soccer), netball, and swimming, among others.

The ADG is organized by Deaf Sports Australia (DSA), the national governing body for deaf sports in Australia. The event brings together athletes from across Australia, providing them with the opportunity to socialize, compete, and showcase their talents.

The ADG has been held since 1964 and is one of the largest multi-sport events for deaf and hard of hearing athletes in Australia. The games aim to promote the development of deaf sports and to raise awareness of the capabilities of deaf and hard of hearing athletes.

Whilst sport is clearly core, the Australian Deaf Games also constitutes a major social and cultural festival for the whole Deaf community. It provides a unique blend of social activities matched with a vast list of sporting events that together cater for a diversity of Deaf community needs.

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Australia Deaf Games - New Zealand participation history

Australia Deaf Games 2024
Newcastle/Lake Macquarie

We sent one of the biggest teams to an international event outside Deaflympics and Asia Pacific Deaf Games. Deaf Sports New Zealand has teams in many sports for 2024. This event was hosted in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie – north New South Wales.We have athletes who participated in

  • Lawn Bowls (including our current World Champion Singles Bowler Adam Baillie)

  • Futsal Mens / Womens / Mixed

  • 11 side football Mens

  • Athletes – Running

  • Touch Rugby Mens / Womens / Mixed

  • Tennis

  • Netball Womens and Mixed

  • Basketball 3×3

Some athletes will also participate in australian state teams as part of networking and development, such as our 3×3 team participating with state 5×5 teams.

Australia Deaf Games 2018
Albury/Wodonga

In many years – we have either a darts team, or a pools team attend the games. 2018 – we were able to send a futsal team to compete in their futsal tournament at the games. We participated in the Mens and Mixed competition as well as have some international matches against Australia and Fiji.

Mixed – Silver

Mens – Bronze

ADG18 - New Zealand Men's Futsal Team