ABN AMRO Expands Commitment to Inclusive Sport with New Scholarship Supporting Pathway to Elite Wheelchair Tennis

ABN AMRO Expands Commitment to Inclusive Sport with New Scholarship Supporting Pathway to Elite Wheelchair Tennis

(IN BRIEF) ABN AMRO has launched a new multi-year Sport Scholarship for wheelchair tennis players at the ABN AMRO Open, based on research showing that ambitious wheelchair athletes face significantly higher annual sports-related costs of €16,000 to €26,500 compared to athletes without a physical disability. The study, led by economist Gerarda Westerhuis, identifies transport and personal assistance as major cost drivers and highlights how financial barriers limit equal access to elite sport and restrict the talent pipeline. Through the scholarship, ABN AMRO will provide selected athletes with financial support, professional guidance, and mentorship from figures such as Esther Vergeer and Diede de Groot, working closely with the Esther Vergeer Foundation to ensure meaningful progress. The initiative builds on the bank’s long-standing commitment to equal opportunities in sport, including its two-decade involvement with wheelchair tennis at the ABN AMRO Open.

(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTERDAM, 10-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — ABN AMRO is introducing a new Sport Scholarship for wheelchair tennis players during the ABN AMRO Open tennis and wheelchair tennis tournament, marking the launch of a multi-year development programme aimed at athletes with elite ambitions. The initiative is designed to address the significant financial barriers faced by wheelchair athletes seeking to progress to top-level sport.

New research commissioned by ABN AMRO indicates that ambitious wheelchair athletes spend between €16,000 and €26,500 more per year on their sport than athletes without a physical disability. These additional costs come on top of standard sports-related expenses and the everyday costs associated with care, medical support, and assistive devices, including health insurance. Through the Sport Scholarship, the bank intends to support talented players with financial resources, professional knowledge, and personalised guidance to create a more sustainable pathway to elite competition.

The research highlights that amateur athletes with a physical disability continue to face unequal opportunities compared to their non-disabled counterparts, largely due to higher financial burdens. On average, participating in sport costs people with a physical disability €1,300 to over €2,200 more per month. These disparities not only limit individual potential but also restrict the overall talent pipeline into elite sport, with broader implications for society.

The study, conducted by sector economist Gerarda Westerhuis on behalf of ABN AMRO, identifies transport and physical support as key cost drivers. Many wheelchair athletes rely on private transport and often travel longer distances to training and competition, leading to average monthly travel costs of at least €388. In addition, many require assistance from a support worker, resulting in further monthly expenses of at least €947.

Westerhuis notes that despite existing reimbursements and personal budget schemes, many people with a physical disability already struggle with basic living costs, making the additional financial burden of sport particularly challenging. Membership fees, specialised equipment, transport, and personal assistance accumulate alongside essential expenses such as medication and aids, reinforcing the scale of the inequality.

The issue extends beyond individual athletes, as limited access to sport for people with physical disabilities also has societal consequences. Esther Vergeer, seven-time Paralympic champion, founder of the Esther Vergeer Foundation, and tournament director of the ABN AMRO Open wheelchair tennis event, emphasises that sport plays a crucial role in social participation, mental wellbeing, and physical health. She also points out that the current system risks overlooking promising talent, as high costs prevent many athletes from advancing to elite levels. Expanding opportunities for a broader group of ambitious athletes, she argues, strengthens both elite sport and society as a whole.

ABN AMRO positions the Sport Scholarship as part of its long-standing commitment to promoting equal opportunities in sport, art, and culture. Over the past two decades, the bank has supported initiatives aimed at inclusion, including integrating wheelchair tennis into the ABN AMRO Open since 2009. According to Sander Bestevaar, Head of Partnerships, Events & Foundations at ABN AMRO, the scholarship represents a structural, rather than symbolic, effort to create lasting change by giving talented wheelchair tennis players the same opportunities as other elite athletes.

The programme is funded and coordinated by ABN AMRO in collaboration with partners such as the Esther Vergeer Foundation, which provides expertise on athletes’ needs and evaluates their progress. Beyond financial assistance, participants will also receive support in financial planning, personal branding, and mentorship from both Esther Vergeer and wheelchair tennis champion Diede de Groot.

Media Contact:

Hans Sjouke Koopal
Sr Press Officer Private Banking, Personal & BB
hans.sjouke.koopal@nl.abnamro.com
+31 (0)20 3009154

SOURCE: ABN AMRO