As Virtus celebrates its 40th anniversary, tennis stands as one of the organisation’s fastest-growing and most ambitious sports programmes.

From a small championship involving just three nations to an expanding international pathway supported by the World Tennis (International Tennis Federation (ITF), Virtus Tennis has evolved into a truly global programme creating new opportunities for athletes with intellectual impairments around the world.

Tennis demands precision, speed, strategy and mental resilience. Within Virtus competitions, athletes compete across Singles, Doubles, Mixed doubles and Men’s and Women’s team events.

Virtus competitions are conducted according to World Tennis or ITF rules and regulations, ensuring athletes compete within internationally recognised standards.

A major part of the programme’s growth has been the development of a comprehensive World Rankings system, where athletes earn ranking points through Virtus competitions as well as endorsed national championships and Grand Slam events.

The Beginning of the International Journey

Virtus Tennis officially began its international championship journey in 2001 with the European Championship in the Czech Republic. Later in 2004, the first World Championships were held at Melbourne Park, Australia. At the time, participation was modest, with athletes from very few countries competing. Despite its small beginnings, the programme laid the foundation for what would become one of the most exciting areas of growth within Virtus Sport.

Since then, Virtus has organised eight World Championships, along with six European Championships. Over the years, World Championships have also been hosted in countries including the USA, Great Britain and France, reflecting the increasing international reach of the programme. Tennis has also been a part of every Global Games edition.

Virtus Tennis has produced some iconic athletes over the last three decades. Multiple-time World title winner Archie Graham (AUS), Kelly Wren (AUS), Dominic Iannotti (GBR), Eva Blanc (FRA), and Hanne Lavreysen (BEL) are some of the II1 athletes who are making waves around the world.

Following extensive research and development, the II2 class for athletes with an intellectual disability and significant additional impairments became a full medal event at the Brisbane 2019 Global Games, followed by the II3 class for athletes with autism at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France.

In the II2 category, Timothy Gould (AUS), Emanuelle Bezzi (ITA), Hugo Beckmann (FRA) and in the II3 category, Hayden Ballard (AUS), Hunter Thompson (AUS), and Youen Segre (FRA) are some of the prominent players who have been leaving their mark in the Virtus Tennis program.

Virtus Tennis now includes around 100 athletes from fourteen competing nations. Efforts are now focused on encouraging greater female participation within the II2 and II3 categories.

Breaking New Ground with Grand Slam Events

One of the most historic developments in Virtus Tennis came in 2023 with the launch of the Virtus Australian Grand Slam event alongside the Australian Open and wheelchair tennis competitions.

Organised and fully funded by Tennis Australia and supported by Virtus members in Australia – Sport Inclusion Australia, the competition gave athletes with an intellectual disability the opportunity to compete alongside some of the world’s best mainstream and wheelchair players. Matches were livestreamed on the same national broadcasting platform as the Australian Open, providing unprecedented visibility for the Virtus Tennis Programme.

From 2024 onwards, the event expanded to full eight-player men’s and women’s draws in the II1 category, selected through Virtus World Rankings.

Looking ahead, another major milestone was achieved in 2026 with the introduction of a Virtus Grand Slam competition in Great Britain alongside the Nottingham Open, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association. For athletes, these events represent much more than competition.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to play alongside the best mainstream and wheelchair players in the world, giving them recognition and showcasing the opportunities the Virtus Tennis Programme offers,” Lesley Whitehead, Virtus Tennis director, shared.

Building the Future Through Partnership with ITF/World Tennis

In December 2025, Virtus and the ITF/World Tennis officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking another historic step forward for the programme.

The partnership aims to expand international participation, encourage more national tennis federations to support athletes with intellectual disability and develop stronger pathways for II1, II2 and II3 athletes worldwide.

The long-term vision is clear: To ultimately work towards inclusion in the Paralympics.

To support coaches and national programmes, a dedicated Virtus Coach Education Course was also launched in 2022 through the Virtus and ITF Academy platforms.

If you know someone with an intellectual disability or autism who would like to compete in the Virtus Tennis Programme, encourage them to contact their national Virtus member organisation, apply for eligibility and begin their journey towards international competition and the Virtus Global Games in Cairo 2027.

As Virtus celebrates four decades of inclusive sport, tennis has become a symbol of innovation, ambition and international growth. From three nations in 2004 to Grand Slam-level events and global partnerships today, Virtus Tennis continues to open new doors for athletes with intellectual impairments around the world.

Most importantly, the programme is proving that athletes with intellectual disability belong on some of the biggest stages in world tennis – competing with pride, talent and determination while inspiring the future generation of players globally.

For more than 40 years, Virtus has created opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability to compete, excel and belong.  Basketball has been one of the organisation’s finest sports throughout this journey, growing into one of the largest and most successful programmes within the Virtus movement. 

Virtus competitions follow the rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), with a small number of adaptations to meet the needs of Virtus athletes while maintaining the integrity and excitement of the sport. 

Three Decades of International Competition 

The international journey of Virtus Basketball began in 1992, when Madrid hosted the first Global Games.  Seven years later, Poland welcomed the inaugural European Championships, laying the foundation for an international competition pathway that continues to grow today. 

Over the past three decades, Virtus has organised 18 major international championships, including 9 World Championships and 9 European Championships.  Hosted across Europe, Asia, Oceania and South America, these events have welcomed athletes from an ever-growing number of nations while continually raising the standard of international basketball. Basketball has also featured at every edition of the Global Games, making it one of the longest-standing and most popular sports in the Virtus programme. 

Today, Virtus Basketball is played in more than 50 member nations, bringing together athletes through teamwork, skill and determination. The programme offers both the traditional 5×5 format and the fast-paced 3×3 game, creating more opportunities for athletes of all abilities to compete internationally. 

Basketball was also one of the first sports for athletes with an intellectual disability to feature at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, alongside athletics, swimming and table tennis.  Although the sport has not yet returned to the Paralympic programme, Virtus has continued to provide elite international competition through its own championships and the Virtus Global Games. 

A New Era: The Formation of the VIBF 

A major milestone in the sport’s history came with the establishment of the Virtus International Basketball Federation (VIBF), providing basketball with its own dedicated international governing body in 2025. 

Today, the VIBF leads the development of basketball for athletes with an intellectual disability, overseeing international competitions, supporting member nations and creating new pathways for athletes around the world.  The organisation continues to promote both 5×5 and 3×3 basketball, with 3×3 playing an important role in expanding participation and creating more opportunities, particularly for women. 

The VIBF is supported by distinguished patrons, such as legendary Basketball Administrator Lorraine Landon OAM, former NBA coach Brett Brown, former French Olympic basketball player Emmeline Ndongue, Central Asia Basketball Association President Abay Alpamissov, whose expertise continues to strengthen the sport’s global development. 

Looking to the Future 

As Virtus celebrates its 40th anniversary, basketball continues to grow in participation, quality and international reach.  Regional Games across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Oceania, together with the Virtus Global Games, are providing more opportunities than ever before for athletes to compete on the world stage. 

This remarkable journey has been built through the dedication of the Virtus Basketball Committee, the VIBF, athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and member organisations who have helped shape the programme over the past four decades. 

From the first World Championships in Greece to the courts of the Virtus Global Games, Virtus Basketball has become much more than a competition. It is a story of teamwork, inclusion and opportunity that continues to inspire new generations of athletes. 

If you know someone with an intellectual disability or autism who would like to compete in the VIBF Basketball programme, encourage them to contact their national Virtus member organisation, apply for eligibility and begin their journey towards international competition, including the 2026 VIBF 3×3 World Cup in Thailand and the Virtus Global Games Cairo 2027.

 Virtus at 40: Championing Excellence Since 1986

Virtus is delighted to launch two new Anti-Doping Guides for athletes with an intellectual disability and Athlete Support Personnel as part of the 2026 Virtus Anti-Doping Awareness Program, reinforcing its commitment to protecting clean sport through accessible and inclusive education.

Developed specifically for athletes with an intellectual disability, the guides provide clear and practical information to help athletes, coaches, parents, team managers and support staff understand their anti-doping rights and responsibilities and make informed decisions to protect the integrity of sport.

Recognising that traditional anti-doping materials can often be difficult to understand for athletes with an intellectual disability, the guides have been designed using accessible communication principles, simple language and visual elements to make anti-doping education easier to understand and apply in practice.

“Anti-doping can be a complex subject, and we recognise that traditional educational materials are not always accessible for athletes with an intellectual disability. These new Guides provide practical and easy-to-understand information to help athletes and their support teams protect clean sport. We hope they will support a more informed sporting community and help more athletes access the knowledge they need to compete clean”, said Juliana Soares, Virtus Anti-doping manager.

The guides can be viewed and downloaded from the 2026 Virtus Anti-Doping Awareness Program page. They are currently available in English, French and Spanish, ensuring greater accessibility for members across the global Virtus community. Additional language versions can also be translated and made available upon request to support the needs of national member organisations and athletes around the world.

The publications were created through the collaborative efforts of the Virtus Anti-Doping Education Team, led by Juliana Soares, Virtus’ Anti-Doping Manager. The team consisted of anti-doping education volunteers Ruth Cidade and Adriana Nascimento de Souza, who contributed to the content of the guidebooks. Virtus Marketing and Communication manager, Mousumi Mazumdar, was also part of the team and contributed to the project’s inclusive communication and graphic design.

Commenting on the launch, Virtus President Robyn Smith OAM said:

“I want to call on all members of our family – athletes, coaches and support staff – to read these fantastic new guides and to help protect athletes with an intellectual disability. This is a very important part of our work where we have a strong track record – one that I am very proud of – but there is always more that we can do. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in writing and designing these new guides, and I look forward to seeing you all at a Virtus competition soon.“

The launch of the guides forms part of the third edition of the Virtus Anti-Doping Awareness Program, which continues to provide accessible and engaging education opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability and autism, as well as the wider support network that plays a vital role in protecting clean sport.

Virtus encourages all athletes and Athlete Support Personnel to download, read and share the guides within their organisations and teams as part of their ongoing commitment to competing clean and protecting the values of fair play.

As Virtus marks its 40th anniversary, these new Guides reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every athlete with an intellectual disability has access to the education and support needed to participate in clean sport with confidence. Virtus also extends its sincere thanks to the members of the Anti-Doping Education Team, whose dedication, expertise and commitment to inclusive communication have made these resources possible.

Virtus At 40: Championing Excellence Since 1986

For more than 40 years, Virtus has built a global movement where athletes with an intellectual disability can compete, excel and belong. At the heart of this journey is swimming – one of the organisation’s most successful, recognisable and influential sports.

From its beginnings at the first World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability in Härnösand, Sweden, in 1989 to today’s elite international championships and Paralympic success, Virtus Swimming has created opportunities for athletes around the world to perform at the highest level.

Swimming has been part of the Virtus movement since the inaugural World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability in 1989. From the very beginning, it quickly became one of the most popular sports within the programme.

The widespread availability of swimming pools around the world helped the sport grow rapidly, allowing athletes from an increasing number of countries to train, compete and develop. Today, swimming remains one of the cornerstones of the Virtus movement.

A Growing International Competition Pathway

Over the past four decades, Virtus has established a strong international competition pathway for swimmers, from regional development opportunities through to elite world-level competition.

Virtus has organised eight World Swimming Championships, alongside numerous regional championships across Europe, Oceania-Asia and other regions. Swimming has also featured at every edition of the Virtus Global Games, providing athletes with regular opportunities to compete against the world’s best.

Virtus competitions are conducted under the World Para Swimming rules and regulations, ensuring high standards and strong alignment with the Paralympic competition pathway.

A major milestone came at the 2017 Virtus World Swimming Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where two new trial eligibility groups were introduced for athletes with Down syndrome and athletes with autism. Following extensive research and development, the II2 class for athletes with an intellectual disability and significant additional impairments became a full medal event at the Brisbane 2019 Global Games, followed by the II3 class for athletes with autism at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France.

These milestones marked a significant step forward in Virtus’ commitment to expanding inclusion and creating opportunities for a wider range of athletes with intellectual disabilities and autism. Since then, the II2 and II3 classes have continued to grow rapidly, producing world records, international champions and inspiring performances.

Swimming also became one of the first sports for athletes with an intellectual disability to feature at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, alongside athletics and basketball. Today, athletes continue to compete through the S14 classification, providing a clear pathway for II1 athletes from Virtus competition to the highest level of Paralympic sport.

Record-Breaking Athletes and Global Stars 

Over the years, many Virtus swimmers have gone on to become Paralympic champions, world record holders and global ambassadors for inclusive sport. 

Among those who have stood on the Paralympic podium are Great Britain’s Jessica-Jane Applegate, Bethany Firth, Reece Dunn and Poppy Maskill, Japan’s Naohide Yamaguchi, Denmark’s Alexander Hillhouse, Brazil’s Gabriel Bandeira, Débora Carneiro and Beatriz Carneiro, Australia’s Benjamin Hance, Canada’s Nicholas Bennett, Hong Kong China’s Yui Lam Chan, and Spain’s Michelle Alonso. Many have broken Virtus, Paralympic and World records while inspiring future generations of swimmers.

Virtus has also celebrated exceptional champions across the II2 and II3 competition classes. Athletes including Ayako Morishita (II2) of Japan, Minke Janse van Rensburg (II2) of South Africa, Spain’s Camino Martinez de la Riva (II2), Italy’s Mattia Tonono (II2) Kate Wallington (II3), Amie Holwill (II3) and Alexander Hejaij (II3) of Australia, Axel Parisot (II3) of France, Denmark’s Marius Danielson (II3) have broken world records, won multiple international titles and helped raise the standard of Virtus Swimming.

For many athletes, swimming represents far more than competition. It provides confidence, independence, structure and routine, while supporting mental wellbeing and creating opportunities for friendship, travel and international representation. For many athletes with autism and intellectual disabilities, the water also offers a calm and supportive environment, making swimming one of the most accessible and meaningful sports.

Looking Ahead 

As Virtus celebrates its 40th anniversary, swimming continues to stand among the organisation’s greatest success stories. From the first championships in 1989 to world records, international titles and Paralympic podiums, the sport has continued to grow in quality, participation and global reach.

This remarkable journey has only been possible through the dedication of athletes, coaches, technical officials, volunteers, member organisations and the Virtus Swimming Committee, whose passion and commitment have shaped the programme over the past four decades.

Forty years on, Virtus Swimming continues to inspire future generations to dream bigger, compete with confidence and believe they belong on the world stage. With every stroke, every record and every finish, the legacy of Virtus Swimming continues to grow.

If you know someone with an intellectual disability or autism who would like to compete in the Virtus Swimming programme, encourage them to contact their national Virtus member organisation, apply for eligibility and begin their journey towards international competition – including the Virtus Global Games Cairo 2027.

 Virtus at 40: Championing Excellence Since 1986

Virtus is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Jan Burns MBE as the new Head of Research and Strategic Development for the Virtus Academy. 

Jan has earlier served as Virtus Head of Eligibility for more than 17 years on the Virtus Governing Board. Throughout that time, Jan has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of sport for athletes with intellectual disabilities and has been one of the key figures behind many of the organisation’s most significant achievements. 

Jan has played a central role in establishing the Virtus Academy in 2021 too, creating a platform to advance research, education and knowledge-sharing across the Virtus movement. Her appointment to this new role ensures that her vision, expertise and passion will continue to guide the Academy’s future development. In her new role, Jan will contribute to the further development of the Academy and offer advice and help in our ongoing and future research and education projects.

Jan was one of the driving forces behind the development of the evidence-based eligibility and classification system that led to the re-inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities in the Paralympic Games. Working alongside the International Paralympic Committee and leading international researchers, she helped establish the scientific framework that continues to underpin classification in the sport today.

Her outstanding contribution has been recognised globally. In 2012, she received the UK Research Council’s Gold Podium Research Award for her work supporting the London Paralympic Games, before being awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to disability sport and research. In 2023, she was appointed Chair of the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Compliance and Oversight Committee, further recognising her expertise and leadership in the field.

A major focus of her work is currently supporting several important evidence-based classification research projects that will help strengthen and evolve eligibility systems for future generations of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Further updates on these initiatives will be announced in due course.

As Virtus marks 40 years of advancing inclusion through sport, Professor Jan Burns MBE stands among the most influential figures in the organisation’s history. From helping to shape world-leading classification systems to founding the Virtus Academy, her contributions have left a lasting impact on athletes, researchers and sport leaders across the globe. This appointment not only recognises her extraordinary legacy but also ensures that her expertise will continue to drive innovation and opportunity for future generations.