Tennis

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.