Uncategorized

IBTA is pleased to announce that Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city, will host the 2026 IBTA World Blind Tennis Championships. Blind Tennis Lithuania (Blind Sport Lt) has been selected to organise the 2026 event. IBTA congratulates Blind Sport Lt and Lithuania’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) for being awarded the 2026 world championships.This year’s IBTA World Blind Tennis Championships will take place at the SEB Arena in the city of Vilnius from 23–29 August 2026 with onsite visual classification planned for the 23rd and 24th of August. SEB Arena, an ITF-certified National Training Centre, is the largest indoor tennis complex in Central Europe. More details about the event and registration to follow in the coming weeks.

IBTA is pleased to collaborate with Hip Hop Saves Lives, a nonprofit organisation in the USA, to promote a song that honours the inaugural blind tennis competition at the Australian Open 2026. Chad Harper, Hip Hop Saves Lives founder and a member of Rotary World Disability Advocacy crafted a new song with artists across 3 continents to celebrate Blind Tennis as a new addition to the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament.The song is the result of a joint project between Hip Hop Saves Lives and The Rotary World Disability Advocacy (RWDA). RWDA has a strong focus on the human rights for people with disabilities and recognized music and the arts as a vital part. RWDA actually has a member, Nathalia Benavides, who is a blind tennis player from Colombia. She’s the only Latin American participating in this inaugural competition in Melbourne, Australia.The Australian Open has been a leader when it comes to inclusion and promoting adaptive tennis. AO was the first tennis grand slam to add wheelchair tennis in 2002. IBTA President, Samir Mahir, says music to highlight what we are doing with the sport is a much-needed addition. You can listen and download the song on bandcamp: https://hiphopsaveslives.bandcamp.com/track/blind-tennis-ability-20 On this upbeat dance track Harper from Brooklyn, NY produced the music, raps the first verse and part of the chorus. Club Member Mesh Holykid from Kenya raps the second verse. Lynsey Anne Core from Ireland sings the third verse with harmonies provided by her fellow countryman Patrick Hogan. Kunta Official Beats from Kenya mixed and mastered the song. Joy Mercy who is actually blind sings the chorus that reads “I can see with my ears, what I can’t see with… Read More »Music Celebrates the Inaugural Blind Tennis Competition at AO 2026

The countdown has begun! With less than a month to go, the preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 IBTA European Championships have entered their final phase. The host city of Kozerki, Poland is ready to welcome the continent’s finest, promising a week of world-class sporting passion and unity. A Tournament Finalised and Ready to GoOrganisers have confirmed that the majority of planning is complete. The framework is set, the venues are prepared, and the focus now shifts to the blind and visually impaired athletes who will light up the competition. The excitement is palpable, as all logistical and sporting details have been locked in, ensuring a seamless and spectacular event. The Contenders: 12 Nations, 65 AthletesThe heart of the Championships will be the 65 exceptional players representing 12 nations across Europe. The battle for the continental crown will be fiercely contested by the following countries. 2025 Entry List of Competing Nations: POLAND FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY GREAT BRITAIN IRELAND ITALY SCOTLAND SPAIN LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG UKRAINE (Note: The final list of player names for each country is published below.) Key Dates and Schedule: Your Guide to the ActionMark your calendars! The official schedule provides a clear path from the first whistle to the final trophy lift. Onsite Classification (12-13 October 2025): The Championships begin with the visual classifications. Approximately 23 players who require final certification will undergo this process to ensure fair competition under our sport’s strict classification rules. Tournament Start & Draw Ceremony (13 October 2025): The action officially kicks off at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Monday, 13th October with the much-anticipated draw ceremony. Finals Day & Conclusion (18 October 2025): The tournament reaches its thrilling climax on Saturday, 18th October.… Read More »The Stage is Set for the 2025 IBTA European Championships

Photo showing, from right to left, Ilgar Rahimov, IBSA President, and Samir Mahir, IBTA President, during the MoU signing ceremonyThe signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IBTA and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) was held on the 7th of September during the 2025 IBSA ” New Vision For Africa” Conference in Casablanca, Morocco.This formal agreement is of substantial importance for blind sports. It aims to strengthen cooperation between both organisations and include blind tennis as one of the official sports within IBSA.  Photo showing, from right to left, Ilgar Rahimov, IBSA President, Samir Mahir, IBTA President, and Yassir EL Hanchi, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sports for the Blind and Visually ImpairedIn addition to collaborating in key areas such as Classification and Advocacy, one of the key objectives is to enable blind and partially sighted tennis athletes to compete in all IBSA events allowing them to earn IBTA ranking points. The 2027 IBSA World Games will be organised in Tashent, Uzbekistan.