Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago
Tennis' classification issue. Designed to maintain the integrity of competition, and ensure a level playing field – as far as possible, anyway –wheelchair tennis, like all para-sports, has an international classification system in place. And it’s important that the right system is created, so competition is determined by sporting ability rather than a player’s degree of impairment.
Up until May 2019, the eligibility criteria to compete on the tour, and at the Paralympics, was simply based on whether it was possible for you to play the pedestrian game. It was a system, established by the ITF and recognised by the International Paralympic Committee, that took into account the sport and how it is played.
Of course, no classification system can ever be perfect and over the years there have been debates over powerchairs versus manual on the same court, and where the boundaries should be drawn between an open division player and a quad player. But, on the whole, it was seen as a fair system that was inclusive and helped to grow the sport at all levels.
But after the Sydney Paralympics in 2000, when the Spanish basketball team were found to have fielded a team of mostly non-disabled athletes in order to win gold in the intellectual disability event, the IPC set about developing a new set of codes to ensure intentional misrepresentation, a form of cheating in Paralympic sport, could not occur on that scale again.
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About Baseline Tennis:
Baseline Tennis adds colour and context to the stories behind the game – both familiar and lesser-known.
Standing apart from the maelstrom of the 24/7 news cycle, Baseline Tennis provides informative, engaging and intelligent content on the past, present and future of the game, focusing on the stories that matter.
Our videos combine 3D imagery, motion graphics, archive footage, graphical illustrations and sound, to create rich and vivid storytelling, bringing the viewer immersive profiles of players, tournaments, key moments from history, the skills of the game and major discussion points.
It's tennis. But viewed differently.
#classification #paralympics #tennis
Tennis' classification issue. Designed to maintain the integrity of competition, and ensure a level playing field – as far as possible, anyway –wheelchair tennis, like all para-sports, has an international classification system in place. And it’s important that the right system is created, so competition is determined by sporting ability rather than a player’s degree of impairment.
Up until May 2019, the eligibility criteria to compete on the tour, and at the Paralympics, was simply based on whether it was possible for you to play the pedestrian game. It was a system, established by the ITF and recognised by the International Paralympic Committee, that took into account the sport and how it is played.
Of course, no classification system can ever be perfect and over the years there have been debates over powerchairs versus manual on the same court, and where the boundaries should be drawn between an open division player and a quad player. But, on the whole, it was seen as a fair system that was inclusive and helped to grow the sport at all levels.
But after the Sydney Paralympics in 2000, when the Spanish basketball team were found to have fielded a team of mostly non-disabled athletes in order to win gold in the intellectual disability event, the IPC set about developing a new set of codes to ensure intentional misrepresentation, a form of cheating in Paralympic sport, could not occur on that scale again.
Subscribe: tinyurl.com/BaselineTennis | 🔔Make sure to enable all push notifications!🔔
Watch our most recent videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCj0NjN1EnBmSyGqOq--PJz8S0ReoBYPW
Subscribe to the 'Baseline Exchanges' Podcast:
plnk.to/baseline-exchanges
Follow Baseline Media on the socials:
Website: baseline-media.com
Instagram: instagram.com/baselinemedia_
TikTok: tiktok.com/@baselinemedia_
Twitter: twitter.com/BaselineMedia_
About Baseline Tennis:
Baseline Tennis adds colour and context to the stories behind the game – both familiar and lesser-known.
Standing apart from the maelstrom of the 24/7 news cycle, Baseline Tennis provides informative, engaging and intelligent content on the past, present and future of the game, focusing on the stories that matter.
Our videos combine 3D imagery, motion graphics, archive footage, graphical illustrations and sound, to create rich and vivid storytelling, bringing the viewer immersive profiles of players, tournaments, key moments from history, the skills of the game and major discussion points.
It's tennis. But viewed differently.
#classification #paralympics #tennis
