Archives | 21 Jul 2014
Perfect bids put EB on “sweet torture”
The ETTU Executive Board has awarded the European Championships in 2015 to Russia’s Yekaterinburg, whilst 2016 edition will be staged in Hungarian capital Budapest. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER admitted the Executive Board was put on “sweet torture” befor
The ETTU Executive Board has awarded the European Championships in 2015 to Russia’s Yekaterinburg, whilst 2016 edition will be staged in Hungarian capital Budapest.
ETTU President Ronald KRAMER admitted the Executive Board was put on “sweet torture” before finally came with the decision.
“We had three quality bids for the European Championships in 2015. It took three meetings of the ETTU Executive Board to finally come to the conclusion. We were very pleased by the Russian and Hungarian presentations and we found it difficult to come out with the decision. At the end we agreed in the cooperation with Hungarian and Russian representatives, that the European Championships in 2015 will be combined one in Yekaterinburg, whilst in 2016, Budapest will host individual championships. We were so happy that we had two perfect candidates in two years to come,” explained ETTU President Ronald KRAMER.
In the interview President Ronald KRAMER explained further: “We wanted them both in, but there is only one place per year. It turned out that in 2015 Yekaterinburg would be better candidate. We are proud that two members of the European table tennis family, especially Hungary joining us together after a long period.”
Both cities followed the regulation and offered perfect conditions. “I am sure we will have two outstanding Championships. I know Yekaterinburg is very table tennis minded, but also, it will be important event to use it for development. It is the same with Budapest and Hungary, a country with the immense table tennis tradition. They want to bring big audience back to table tennis. We are looking forward to very good Championships.”
Yekaterinburg offers “Expo” International Exhibition Center, one of the largest in Russia with plenary hall with 1.200 seats. Speaking of Hungary, the European Championships will return to Budapest after 34 years. The venue of the Championships will be “Thorn Arena” in the Buda university quarter close to river Danube.
“In Hungary new facility will be built. It is not ready yet, but it will be completed later this year. Until 2016 they will have experience with that venue. Yekaterinburg already offered many facilities,” underlined President Ronald KRAMER .
We are certainly looking forward to two wonderful Championships in near future.