Widely enjoyed as a favorite leisure activity for all individuals, regardless of intellectual disabilities [mental retardation], gender or age, tennis is a sport Special Olympics athletes can enjoy and benefit from even when not competing in an official Special Olympics competition. Tennis gives athletes the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of skills that can be played throughout life.

In World Games competition tennis is rapidly expanding. In 1987, 18 athletes from three countries competed in this event. By the 1999, World Games the number of athletes reached 143, representing 26 countries.

Tennis is a summer sport for Special Olympics Texas with statewide competition at the Summer Games in May. The following events are sanctioned by Special Olympics Texas and are to be offered at all local, area and chapter competitions. The actual events scheduled and conducted at local, area and chapter competitions will be determined by a minimum number of entries in each event. A participant may enter singles and doubles OR Individual Skills II or Individual Skills I.

Events
Singles
Doubles
Unified Doubles
Individual Skills I
Individual Skills II

Related Sites
United States Tennis Association (rule book)
Federation Internationale de Tennis (rule book)