Athletes Without Limits is looking for talented table tennis players with intellectual disability to represent the US at upcoming national and international events.
As the US member of INAS, Athletes Without Limits offers opportunities for US table tennis players to compete at the highest levels in their sport. International competitions are already being organized by INAS and are run according to standard ITTF rules. Just like in Olympic competition, there are no separate categories by ability level—the top competitors win Gold, Silver and Bronze in each event.
Qualified athletes may be able to travel to international competitions with the US delegation and there are new opportunities for Paralympic competition now that a class for intellectual disability has been added to Table Tennis for the London 2012 Paralympics and other IPC/ITTF events.
Athletes must meet the INAS eligibility requirements and complete the eligibility application to be considered. Please review eligibility guidelines and contact us if you know of any athletes who may be interested in competing in or aspiring to compete in national and international elite level competition. We look forward to meeting you!
International: INAS Table Tennis
The International Federation for Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability (INAS) offers world championship level table tennis events for athletes with intellectual disability. INAS competitors are an elite group of athletes from around the world making great achievements in table tennis. (Watch a video from the 2009 Global Games in the Czech Republic). We look forward to seeing world ranked US players in years to come!
Interested US athletes should work with Athletes Without Limits to complete the athlete eligibility process in order to compete in INAS table tennis events. Athletes Without Limits will organize trips to INAS swim events based on athlete interest. Please contact us for more information.
Athletes Without Limits will organize a trips to INAS table tennis events based on athlete interest. Interested athletes must work with Athletes Without Limits, the US Member of INAS, to become INAS registered prior to competing in any INAS table tennis event.
All INAS table tennis players are held according to the rules of and officiated by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and INAS. As with all INAS competitions, only the top athletes in each event win; there are no separate divisions by ability level as in Special Olympic events.
Paralympic/ITTF Table Tennis
Following the November 2009 vote to re-include athletes with intellectual disability into Paralympic competition, table tennis is likely to be one of the inclusive sports. US players with intellectual disability may have the opportunity to qualify to represent the US at the London 2012 Games. More information will be posted as it becomes available, however the IPC has stated that meeting INAS eligibility criteria is the first step toward Paralympic classification.
National: Table Tennis Opportunities in the US
Athletes Without Limits supports the identification and development of US table tennis players with intellectual disability—please contact us if you are interested in learning more about table tennis opportunities in the US.
The USA Table Tennis website provides a list of table tennis clubs by area and will include a class for athletes with intellectual disability starting with the 2010 US National Championships in December.
Note: For a complete list of US Table Tennis events open to athletes with intellectual disability visit: http://www.usatt.org/disabled/tournaments.shtml
Table Tennis News & Events
Melissa Middleton Named to USA Para Pan Am Team
Athletes Without Limits Melissa Middleton of Cumming, Georgia has been selected to join the US Paralympic / USA Table Tennis (USATT) Para Pan Am Team at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, November 13-18th, 2011. She is the first US athlete to compete in Table Tennis Class 11 (intellectual disability) in over a decade following the Paralympic re-inclusion vote in 2009. The announcement is posted on the TeamUSA website along with Melissa’s Profile. After having met the requirements established in the selection...
read more2011 Global Games World Championships Italy
September 30- October 4, 2011 - Athletes Without Limits will be taking the US Teams in Cycling, Track & Field, Swimming & Possibly Rowing to the 2011 Global Games in Ligura, Italy. The deadline to register has passed but the event guide provides information on what it takes to qualify for the World Championships in each sport.
read more2011 US Para Open Table Tennis
June 29-July 3, 2011: Milwaukee, WI This is an international Table Tennis competition open to players with disabilities.
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2009 Global Games Czech Republic
July 4-15, 2009: Liberec, Czech Republic - With the startup of Athletes Without Limits opportunities to compete at a high level in Cycling, Swimming, Track & Field, Rowing, Table Tennis and other sports are open to US athletes for the first time!
read moreRecruiting Athletes for First US Team to Compete at Global Games
March 1, 2009: Athletes Without Limits is looking for talented athletes with intellectual disability for new international opportunity to compete against top athletes in the World.
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Spring Break Training Camp
We’re hosting a Spring Break Rowing Camp for athletes with intellectual disability in Washington DC April 4-7, 2012. Train from the Anacostia Community Boathouse with our award-winning rowing team...
