The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has launched the bidding process for the 2020 ITTF Challenge Series. ITTF CHALLENGE SERIES Originally part of the ITTF World Tour as the third tier series the ITTF Challenge Series became a separate tour on its own in 2017 to allow new and upcoming players to challenge themselves earn international recognition and experience as well as give more National Associations the opportunity to host international events. The 2020 ITTF Challenge Series will consist of six (6) Challenge Plus event and 12 regular events. The ITTF Challenge Plus which will be the top tier of the Series will offer players higher world ranking points higher prize money and most importantly exposing players to higher level events to reach the next level. Host cities will be provided streaming production and commentary support from the ITTF which will assist the ITTF Challenge Plus events to increase visibility and viewership in the coming years. ITTF Head of World Cup & Challenge Series Ms Zena SIM stated “The 2019 ITTF Challenge Series received a record number of 19 bids and will be hosting a total of 17 events including 9 cities that have never hosted a Challenge Series proving the ITTF Challenge Series ads one of the fastest growing events on the ITTF calendar. The ITTF hope that the 2020 ITTF Challenge Series will attract more new cities to come forward to host the Challenge Series providing players a platform to gain exposure and further develop on an international level.” The more flexible requirements of the ITTF Challenge Series will also allow more cities to get on board to host an international table tennis event gaining experience just as the new and upcoming players are! Deadline for bid submission: 4 February 2019 WHY HOST? Bring new up and coming table tennis players from around the world to your city Showcase your city to world through ITTF’s TV partners worldwide & live streaming on ITTF’s online streaming platform itTV Great way to develop local players to get them in to the international event scene Develop youth players Inspire the next generation of table tennis Champions Great way to start off hosting higher level events Bring an affordable international event to your city Over 2.8 million ITTF social media followers globally Visit ITTFChallengeSeries.com for more information and submit your bids now!
“Mister Heerlen” Rene DANIËLS has passed away
It is with great sadness that the death of Rene DANIËLS is announced. On the 28th December 2018 the world of table tennis has lost a colorfull and important person. “Mister Heerlen” Rene DANIËLS has passed away. He was only 50 years old. Six months ago René was diagnosted with the cancer and he died in the year when he has became a father for the very first time. René did everything he could for table tennis in general and for his club TTC Lybrae Heerlen in particular. As team manager he was responsible for the success of the women’s team of TTC Lybrae Heerlen. The Champions Leauge has won twice and the ETTU Cup once. After years of absence TTC Lybrae Heerlen played on the European stage again thanks to René’s efforts. He was present when the toss had to be made to decide on the winner of the match TTC Lybrae Heerlen-Fenerbace. The fortune was in favour of TTC Lybrae Heerlen. It was a big pleasure to René who was at that moment already fatally ill. TTC Lybrae Heerlen proceeded to the next round but that was the final station for the club. For René this was his final performance. Only a short period after this he was informed that there was no more possibility for recovery and he has then too bizarre to imagine organised his own farewell. René was also the founder of the “Limburgs tafeltennisplan” a project that makes sure that table tennis stays in the focus of the government of the province of Limburg. He leaves a big hole in the world of table tennis but has built a firm foundation which all table tennis lovers can and must use to develop our sport. At this moment however his family friends and members of TTC Lybrae Heerlen are mourning gravely for the passing away of René DANIËLS.
TTC Fakel-Gazprom aims fifth TTCLM title
Team manager of Russian club Victor ANDREEV sees his side successful against AS Pontoise Cergy The upcoming TTCLM quarter-finals will see the clash between two teams that won six titles in last seven seasons as two-time champion AS Pontoise Cergy faces four-time winner TTC Fakel-Gazprom (first leg to be held in France on January 23rd second one on February 8th). It will be a reprise of the 2013/14 finals when French side has lifted the trophy. Two years after that finals Pontoise again prevailed (5:4 on aggregate) in the semi-final contest what was decisive for their second and last TTCLM crown so far. Four-time winner Orenburg beat twice Pontoise last year within Group A while now its team manager Victor ANDREEV believes that his club will defeat them again as well as to win TTCLM fifth time in its history: “We consider the draw of the TTCLM final stage for our team to be successful although the upcoming quarter-finals with the French club AS Pontoise Cergy TT will not be easy. We are already familiar with this team. All our players will seriously prepare for these matches. The management of the TTC Fakel-Gazprom has set a serious task for the team – to win the European Champions League for the fifth time”.
Angers vs. Walter Wels – a good draw for both sides!
Angers’ president Gérard SARAZIN comments TTCLM quarter-finals draw It is not usual case having both sides satisfied after one draw but recent 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-final draw saw both Angers and Walter Wels in that mood. These two teams will play their first leg in Austria on January 25th (19:30 CET) while the second one is scheduled for February 8th (19:30 CET). They are happy to get a chance to play one against another. “I think this is a good draw for the both teams! I really believe it is 50/50. We didn’t want to play against Pontoise because it is a French team. So all is possible and we were very happy to finish first in group stage (first time in TTCLM). Our goal is to reach the TTCLM semi-final with the necessity to make a good result in Austria and provide a good atmosphere for our people in the second leg” stated Gérard SARAZIN president of Vaillante Sports Angers.
Bogoria is looking forward to playing against Borussia
“After TTCLM draw ceremony many our fans were happy to be able see Timo BOLL live” stated team manager of Poland’s club Dominik WIECZOREK Poland’s club Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki is looking forward to having another TTCLM showdown against 11-time champion Borussia Dusseldorf. Recent draw for the 2018/19 quarter-final put them on the same table again and first leg is scheduled for January 24th in Poland. “Borussia Dusseldorf is always tough opponent it’s probably the most titled team in the 21st century” stated Bogoria’s team manager Dominik WIECZOREK. “From the other side we are really glad that Timo BOLL again back to our hall. After draw ceremony many our fans were happy to be able see Timo BOLL live. Very import will be first match in Grodzisk Mazowiecki if we win in our hall everything will be possible.” Regarding his team’s goals in the 2019 WIECZOREK emphasized the following: “In the coming year main goal will be victory in Polish LOTTO Superliga. We also want to be still present in European Cups. Promotion to the quarter-finals of the Champions League is a big success of our club but in every season we want to be in the best eight clubs in Europe.”
MIKESKA: We aren’t without chance!
Hodonin’s coach believes that the ECLW quarter-finals against Berlin can be very close matches Czech Republic’s club SKST Hodonín – STAVOIMPEX is looking forward to its very first ECLW quarter-finals against four-time champion TTC Berlin Eastside from Germany. Hodonin finished second in Group D with 3-1 win-loss record being tied in points with two-time ECLW runner-up KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg actual no. 2 seed. “At this stage of the competition it is hard to choose a team to play against especially if you go from the second place and there are 4 very strong teams that won the group in the first stage” stated Hodonin’s coach Jaroslav MIKESKA. “We play against Berlin who has in their team four top European players so of course they are big favourite in the quarterfinals to go through. But we will do our best and I think that we aren’t without chance and it can be very close matches.” Regarding his club’s goals in the 2019 MIKESKA stated: “It is the first time for our club to go through to the quarterfinals of Champions League so it is the biggest success for our club in the history. Everything more would be just a bonus for us.” First quarter-final leg will be held on January 25th while the second one is scheduled on February 8-10th.
Bidding Process Open for Seamaster 2019 & 2020 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals & ITTF Star Awards
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has opened bids for the Seamaster 2019 & 2020 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals as well as the ITTF Star Awards in both years. ITTF WORLD TOUR GRAND FINALS The ITTF World Tour Grand Finals is year-ending finale of the ITTF World Tour the highest-level professional table tennis tour where world class athletes compete in 12 stops (6 Regular & 6 Platinum events) around the world to be the top 16 in Singles & top 8 Doubles pairs to qualify for the million-dollar event (along with the host representative in each event as defined in the qualification criteria for each). 4 Mixed Doubles pairs from the 2019 World Tour Grand Finals will also qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Mixed Doubles event with a maximum of one pair per National Olympic Committee (NOC) adding extra media interest. The recently concluded Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon Korea was watched live by 15 000 spectators at the Namdong Gymnasium and saw record-breaking viewership being broadcasted in 120 countries with close to 250 hours of air time across the globe. The Grand Finals was also seen by 68.3 million unique TV viewers in China alone with another 30 million from other parts of the world tuning into the action. BIG BENEFITS FOR ITTF WORLD TOUR GRAND FINALS HOST The ITTF World Tour Grand Finals has consistently been a great avenue for countries and cities to gain global reach promotion and recognition: Best athletes best venue best competition Exciting new sport presentation High level of marketing & promotion 1 million USD prize money Extensive prime time broadcast in key territories such as China Japan and throughout Europe on Eurosport Over 120 broadcast countries Over 227 broadcast hours 100 million TV viewers Over 2.8 million ITTF social media followers globally 7 million Facebook impressions 3 million Instagram impressions Over 19.7 million Weibo impressions in China 500 000 unique viewers on ITTF’s online streaming platform itTV Over 1 million views on ITTF’s Youtube channel 2019 & 2020 will mark the 23rd and 24th anniversaries respectively of the ITTF World Tour previously known as the Pro Tour To become a part of the world’s biggest table tennis tour go to ITTFWorldTour.com to find out more information and submit your bid now! ITTF STAR AWARDS The “Oscars of Table Tennis” the ITTF Star Awards is the highly anticipated annual Awards Night and Gala Dinner for the world of Table Tennis representing the most prestigious individual prizes for the sport’s standout stars. Inaugurated in 2013 the ITTF Star Awards will be in its seventh year in 2019 guaranteeing a grand celebration of the best players’ and coaches’ international achievements in 2019 as well as their popularity among table tennis fans and enthusiasts around the world. The evening of glitz and glamour at the Incheon 2018 ITTF Star Awards this December was watched live by over 1 million fans across all ITTF social media platforms reaching over 50.9 million impressions. With the 2019 & 2020 editions promising to be bigger and better than ever make sure that you’re a part of it all by submitting your bid!
Linz AG Froschberg determined to continue winning streak against Metz TT
President of Austrian club Gunther RENNER comments ECLW quarter-final draw President of Linz AG Froschberg Gunther RENNER believes that his side is able to reach 2018/19 ECLW semi-finals after two games against French club Metz. It will be quarter-final clash (1st leg January 25th in France) between former two-time ECLW winner and actual ETTU Cup Women champion. “We play against Metz for the third time in the ELCW. It has always been exciting games and always with a happy ending for our team. Especially unforgettable was our clash decided by only single point” stated Gunther RENNER giving a big compliments to the French side: “TT Metz is the top European club with a lot of fans who always create a great atmosphere in the hall. Personally I’m looking forward to the great matches between our two teams and a reunion with President Phillipe BORDES in Metz.” Sofia POLCANOVA is the most experienced Linz player in the ECLW in spite of being just 24-year-old. RENNER is sure that his club has a bright future: “We have again a strong but still very young team from whom we expect great things in the future. And this team wants to know how far the journey in the ECLW can go. A good starting position in Metz for the return match in Linz could be crucial to create another success against Metz and continue our path in the ECLW.”
ONSIDE partners consider research results in Lausanne
The 3rd full partner meeting of the ONSIDE project partners took place in Lausanne Switzerland on 15th/16th November 2018 at the headquarters of European Athletics. The main focus of day 1 of the meeting was to consider the results of the research phases of the project. Adequate workforce research is the foundation of a successful skills development project and the partners reviewed the results from the four phases of research which had been carried out since the last meeting. Telephone interviews with nine leading European federations generated useful data and increased the network of federations committed to the ONSIDE project. The group were most looking forward to learning the results of the national sport federation online survey – as all had made significant efforts to promote the survey in their networks. 247 respondents provided responses across 50 sports. The partner countries (France UK Bulgaria Romania Malta and the Netherlands) were very well represented. Results were analysed and discussed under key workforce development themes including recruitment retention skills education and current challenges. At the close of Day 1 delegates took a guided tour of the Olympic museum which was arranged by European Athletics and enjoyed immensely by all. Day two saw delegates debating levels and models of sport officials led by Jan Vlasblom of NOC*NSF and agreeing a structure for the Occupational Descriptor to be produced in the project. Finally an interactive session produced an overall working definition of sport officiating which is the starting point in the production of competency standards. The partners now look forward to the next meeting in Bucharest Romania in March 2019 where they will finalise the first set of outputs. Ben Gittus EOSE Director of Standards said “the partners are working together very well as a team to tackle this challenging skills development project the research phase considered at the meeting has laid a solid foundation as we move in to year 2 of the project”. Julia Lee Director at Sports Officials UK said “The two days have been really illuminating and it has highlighted the passion for sports officiating. 247 people completed the survey which in the time scale is really positive. The input from the partners and information gathered will be really useful to progress to the next stages of the project”. The ONSIDE project is co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships in Sport programme. Full list of project partners: European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE) Sports Officials UK (SOUK) Association Française du Corps Arbitral Multisports (AFCAM) European Handball Federation (EHF) European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) European Athletics SportMalta Dutch Olympic Committee * Dutch Sports Federation (NOC*NSF) Romanian Football Federation (FRF) British Wheelchair Basketball National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski”
Strong Statements of Intent from ITTF Executive Committee Meeting
Key decisions have been made during the ITTF Executive Committee’s last meeting of 2018 – held during the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon Korea – to improve the future of Table Tennis. COMMERCIAL RIGHTS The most significant decision came with approval for setting up a commercial vehicle tasked with managing all of the ITTF’s commercial rights from 2021 onwards. In view of this the Executive Committee endorsed the work done by the ITTF Marketing Department and Deloitte on the 2021 commercial rights tender which will be released at the end of quarter one 2019. ‘HOME OF TABLE TENNIS’ It was decided that the ITTF will release a bid to find the new ‘Home of Table Tennis’ which will house the ITTF Headquarters and the sport’s International Centre of Excellence. The ‘Home of Table Tennis’ will be the centre of all things ITTF with the core of the ITTF’s staff moving there and it will also house all of the ITTF’s High Performance activities. T2 DIAMOND EVENTS The collaboration between the ITTF and T2APAC is also gathering steam with the ITTF Executive Committee approving world ranking points for the three T2 Diamond events in 2019. These events will act as a testing lab for the ITTF to trial innovations and therefore improve the commercial value of the sport. “BIG AND BOLD DECISIONS” ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “I would like to thank my Executive Committee colleagues for such a fruitful meeting resulting in big and bold decisions which will show the world that we are serious about moving Table Tennis to the next level. These decisions represent a statement of intent from a forward-thinking ITTF and will give us the momentum to achieve our lofty goals outlined in our first ever Strategic Plan approved at the 2018 AGM.” The final ITTF Executive Committee caps off an historic year for the ITTF with the following significant milestones being achieved: First ever Strategic Plan released. ITTF Foundation created. Remarkable Unified Korea teams introduced at the World Championships and ITTF World Tour. Remodelled professional staff structure. Record Marketing income. World Championships expanded for 2021 onwards
