How Travel Places Delivered an Accessible Journey for DeaflympicsGB to Tokyo 2025
Coordinating flights for 88 athletes and staff across seven sports required expert precision and planning. Here’s how we partnered with UK Deaf Sport to deliver a fully accessible and comfortable journey to the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
Seats secured
sports represented
medals won
When UK Deaf Sport approached Travel Places in January 2025, their goal was clear, to get Team DeaflympicsGB to Tokyo for the 2025 Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for deaf athletes held every four years.
The DeaflympicsGB team had missed the previous 2022 games, due to pandemic disruptions, and with no UK Government funding, every penny of the £500,000 they had self-funded mattered.
Our challenge? Secure flights for 88 passengers competing in football, swimming, tennis, cycling, golf, shooting, and athletics, manage specialist baggage, and ensure the entire experience was fully accessible for all the athletes. Here’s how we made it happen.
Creating an Accessible Journey with British Airways
Accessibility was at the heart of this project. From the outset, we worked closely with British Airways to anticipate and meet the team’s needs. We weren't just booking flights, we wanted to create an experience where every athlete felt supported and included.
We arranged a dedicated check-in area at Heathrow Terminal 5, staffed by British Sign Language (BSL) trained personnel to ensure clear communication from the very start. On board, British Airways went above and beyond by issuing an internal request for cabin crew with BSL skills to volunteer for the flights. Even those without full BSL training took the time to learn basic phrases such as “tea or coffee,” so that every interaction felt personal and respectful.
We also ensured that onboard entertainment included subtitles for films and announcements, removing barriers and making the experience as inclusive as possible. To add a personal touch, the check-in screens displayed “DeaflympicsGB,” which became a proud photo moment for the athletes as they began their journey to Tokyo.
Our Specialist Event Manager, Debbie, was on-site at Heathrow to oversee the check-in process and ensure everything ran smoothly. “It’s all about thinking ahead,” Debbie explained. “Putting yourself in their situation and asking: what would make this journey easier and more inclusive?”
One of the most memorable moments came when the athletes met Frederick, a deaf British Airways staff member working at Terminal 5. BA employs an interpreter to work alongside Frederick, enabling him to perform his role effectively. For the athletes, seeing Frederick in action was a real-life example of inclusion in the workplace. “I overheard the athletes talking about how impressed they were,” Debbie said. “It gave them confidence that BA truly understands accessibility.”
Thank you to Debbie and her team at Travel Places for all the support with travel arrangement for the DeaflympicsGB Team to Japan. Their expertise, knowledge, and experience in coordinating our large group booking was very much appreciated. The process was smooth, easy and no problem or challenge too difficult for Debbie. We felt very well looked after during our travel, with supportive and helpful BSL staff to support the team during the departure, arrival and travel. We look forward to working with you again in future events.
Kathryn Halsey, Operations Manager - UK Deaf Sport
Why Accessibility Expertise Matters
Accessibility is embedded in how we work. With experience supporting The British Paralympic Association, the England Blind Football Squad, and the England Deaf Cricket Team, we know the details that matter when managing inclusive travel. From specialist baggage handling to seating arrangements and clear communication with airlines, we ensure every traveller receives dignified, personalised support.
As Debbie put it:
"Understanding accessibility needs is what sets us apart. We know that different disabilities have different needs and we do all we can to ensure their journey is the best that it can be."
A huge congratulations to all of the athletes and support staff for their hard work and for bringing home 12 medals at the games.
