European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 18, 22 (2025) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2025.016

Inclusive opportunities to participate in tennis from the perspectives of people with and without intellectual or physical disability

Christoph Kreinbucher-Bekerle1,2
1 Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Austria
2 University of Teacher Education Styria, Graz, Austria

Participation in sport and exercise as leisure activities is a human right for everyone. As in many other sports, opportunities to participate in tennis for people with disabilities are often exclusively for specific target groups, such as wheelchair tennis or comparable opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Moreover, people with disabilities are rarely asked about their own perspectives on (inclusive) sport events. Therefore, 21 recreational tennis players with disability (12 Special Olympics and nine wheelchair tennis players) and 21 without disability, as well as 14 trainers and other representatives were surveyed before and after several integrative and inclusive competition events using a sports-related version of the index for inclusion. Players with and without disability did not differ in their perception of inclusive opportunities in tennis. Although both tennis players with and without disability appear to be content with the situation regarding inclusive tennis opportunities, accessibility seems to be a major issue. The results indicate that there is a need for further awareness-raising through different tennis opportunities.

Keywords: inclusion; Index for Inclusion; mixed-ability; Paralympics; physical activity; Special Olympics; sports; Unified; wheelchair tennis

Received: February 27, 2024; Revised: March 26, 2025; Accepted: September 5, 2025; Published online: October 28, 2026  Show citation

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Kreinbucher-Bekerle, C. (2025). Inclusive opportunities to participate in tennis from the perspectives of people with and without intellectual or physical disability. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 18, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.5507/euj.2025.016
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