Rafael Nadal helps mentally disabled young people using the power of tennis
Through his foundation, Rafael Nadal decided to help young people with intellectual disabilities develop their social skills and improve their physical shape by introducing them to the beautiful world of tennis.
“Aside from improving their tennis, they also improve physical aspects such as coordination, athleticism, dexterity...“ says Maria Del Mar Munoz, a coach from Rafa Nadal Foundation. “The guys have formed some very nice groups. After tennis, they normally meet to go to the cinema, or for hamburgers,” Munoz continued.
Rafa Nadal Foundation joined the ‘More than Tennis’ project alongside the Special Olympics Spain organization.
“More than Tennis is passion, is sport, is happiness, is participation, is commitment… and aims through sport – in this case, tennis – to achieve the maximum inclusion and integration of athletes with intellectual disabilities in society. We currently have 18 schools spread across Spain,” said Enric Blesa, director of Special Olympics Spain.
Tennis proved to be very beneficial to intellectually disabled young people. “As disabled sport is not very well known, to see that your son is overcoming challenges and can take part in this, it’s very nice,” said Nora, a sister of a participant in the ‘More than Tennis’ project. Paula, a young woman involved in the project supported by Rafael Nadal, also shared her opinion: “It’s amazing! It’s the best thing that’s happened to us!”
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