International Tennis Federation: Wheelchair Tennis Silver Fund Project  Introducing a wheelchair tennis project in underdeveloped countries will improve the quality of life of men, women and children with a disability by allowing them to gain in confidence and by helping them to integrate back into their community. By playing sports people with a disability can make the most of their lives, gain confidence and gain freedom in and respect from their communities. The Silver Fund supports the full integration of people with a disability in social life and development and of equality. Wheelchair tennis can also be played with, and against, able-bodied people, which enables people with a disability to take part in community life and to play tennis with their family and friends. Through this project the ITF would like to promote a positive image of people with a disability, change the way other people look at people with a disability and to show that people with a disability can do proper physical activity and that people with a disability can still take part in the social and economical life of the community. At first hand, the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Development Officer, Mark Bullock, has seen how their efforts are changing the lives of local people with a disability, many of whom have very little left to live for. Ellen de Lange, ITF Wheelchair Tennis Manager, says that a lot of people with a disability have no hope any more. For many of them the first priority is to survive. But wheelchair tennis gives them pleasure and boosts their self-esteem. It gives them the confidence to be more independent and the result is that they are more positive about life. Objectives Bullock spends much of his time visiting countries that are underdeveloped in tennis terms. He is often asked if the ITF can provide sport wheelchairs, other tennis equipment and coaching materials. Only a small proportion of the participants attending clinics in these countries have sport wheelchairs. In Sri Lanka for example a total of 100 soldiers had to share 12 sport wheelchairs. In underdeveloped countries the players are reliant on sport wheelchairs being donated. People with a disability in such countries do no have the disposable income or government support to purchase a sport wheelchair. Although there are no finances and infrastructure in the underdeveloped countries, the nations are very keen to start a wheelchair tennis project and would like to make the sport self-supporting, with the help of the ITF. These countries also have many people who are all eager to play wheelchair tennis. This is why it is ideal for these countries to receive donations as a catalyst for a wheelchair tennis programme. Location 2003-2004 (Pilot Phase): Sri Lanka, South Africa, Romania, Bolivia 2004-2005: El Salvador, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Moldova/Bulgaria Targetgroup * Only a few nations are described as examples Sri Lanka: During the wars in Sri Lanka thousands of young men have been wounded. For these soldiers their disability meant the end of their army career. Together with the Sri Lankan army, the Sri Lanka Tennis Association introduced wheelchair tennis amongst those young men aged between 15-25 years. El Salvador: The long years of war left thousands of Salvadorans disabled as a result of landmines (comparable with Sri Lanka). The Silver Fund is seeking ways to work together with the army of El Salvador and with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, who are already working in El Salvador to support them with producing orthopaedic devices. The Salvadoran Tennis Association is currently working together with the Disabled Federation and the Foundation Bienestar Policial that supports policemen who have been disabled through an accident at the work. Use of sport Sport embraces a multi-dimensional function which few other rehabiltative activities can, involving physiological as well as psychological benefits. Initially, sport will serve a purely rehabilitation function. Enhancement of physical skills are always the first step in the rehabilitative process, and sports are an excellent means through which to improve them. With the improvement of motor skills, coordination, cardiovascular strength and muscular conditioning, the physical challenges the individual faces feel less challenging, allowing them to be more in control of their life. And by facing and overcoming the physical challenges sports present, they feel more confident and independent. Next there are the psychological benefits associated with participation in sports. Further, by being able to participate and compete with able-bodies persons a true sense of achievement is realized because they have accomplished something they have been told all their life they cannot. Conclusions A major result of the Silver Fund projects is the significant increase in opportunities for persons with a disability, including war-related disabilities to participate in sport and wheelchair tennis. In some nations the projects have had the capacity to assist in building tennis courts to ensure the programme is sustainable. The benefits to the individuals have already been described in the Issue section. There have been different lessons learned in each nation. Overall the development plan for wheelchair tennis has been based off the plan of the International Tennis Federation for persons without a disability therefore it has already been tested. Timeframe 2003-present Implementing Organization International Tennis Federation Contact Mark Bullock Wheelchair Tennis Development Officer International Tennis Federation Tel: +44 208 878 6464 Fax: +44 208 392 4741 Email: Mark.Bullock@itftennis.com Wheelchair Tennis Department International Tennis Federation Bank Lane Roehampton London SW15 5XZ Great Britain Background document www.wheelchairtennis.com/asp/silverfund/background.asp | 