26/09/2011 – Prior to recent Baltic Championships staged in the Latvian town of Dobele it was agreed by all parties to introduce a variation to the regulations pertaining to the service.Instead of players having two services each and from 10-all al https://www.ettu.org 26/09/2011 – Prior to recent Baltic Championships staged in the Latvian town of Dobele it was agreed by all parties to introduce a variation to the regulations pertaining to the service.Instead of players having two services each and from 10-all alternating the player who lost the previous point had the next service; an innovative move.The innovation is rather different to other sports where if you win the point you keep serving; volleyball is an example. A new idea but not so new; the Latvian Table Tennis Federation submitted the proposal to the ITTF General Assembly in 2001 at the World Championships in Osaka. It was a time when the scoring system as whole was undergoing change as was the size of the table tennis ball; perhaps it was not the most suitable time for such a proposal. In 2007 at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb the proposals was submitted once again and more recently the matter was on the agenda at the General Assembly earlier this year in Rotterdam. The conclusion from the ITTF Rules Committee and the Umpires and Referees Committee plus all concerned was quite simply to try out the idea; that is exactly the policy followed by Egils PURINSH the Referee at the Baltic Championships. An International Umpire since 1984 and International Referee since 1994; Eglish PURINSH has more often than not been the Latvian delegate at the ITTF General Assembly. “As we were applying the rules for the first time many players where not ready; therefore many of them were against such changes” explained Egils PURINSH. “However I think that it is necessary to continue to study discuss and explain to the players why such changes have been proposed.” Presumably a player must be two points clear to win a game; therefore under the system used at the Balkan Championships a player cannot win the game on his or her service. The player must be receiving service.The aim is very genuine the aim is to promote table tennis to make a better sport; a natural reaction is to oppose change but without change we will never move forward. Did we once really play to 21 points and have five services each? (by Ian MARSHALL courtesy ITTF) Photo: “famous” OVTCHAROV’s service (Photo Roscher)

09/09/2011 – From 27th May to 1st June 2013 the ??Arena will be the venue of the 10th European Veterans’ Table Tennis Championships (EVC). As early as during the World Championships in Rotterdam in May this year the German Table Tennis Assoc 09/09/2011 – From 27th May to 1st June 2013 the ??Arena will be the venue of the 10th European Veterans’ Table Tennis Championships (EVC). As early as during the World Championships in Rotterdam in May this year the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) had been honoured by the European Table Tennis Union to host these championships. However due to several German cities applying for this big event for the 40 plus table tennis cracks the final decision was only taken now. “Together with the city of Bremen we look forward to Europe’s veterans and we hope to achieve a new record with more than 3 000 players taking part in the EVC ” says Thomas WEIKERT President of the DTTB. In 2006 this figure was more than met during the World Veterans’ Championships at the same venue in Bremen: In what is today the ??Arena more than 3 600 players from 61 countries were competing. The EC organisers – apart from the DTTB they are the ??Arena and the Bremen Tourism Centre – are prepared to set a new record. Matches will be played on about 130 tables in 2 large halls. The organising team is well aware of the needs and requirements of the world’s fastest racket sport. Apart from the Veterans’ World Championships the international table tennis elite made its appearance there in 2006 for the LIEBHERR World Team Championships as well as up to now 3 German Open Championships. “At the ??Arena we are again offering professional conditions for the EVC. Among other things in both halls the special red table tennis floor will be laid and we guarantee the best possible lighting ” says Claus KLEYBOLDT Managing Director of the ??Arena. Everything will be provided under the same roof and non-sports aspects will not be neglected either: There will be a rest area in the hall serving for relaxing and getting to know each other. In addition catering has been adjusted to the need and tastes of international guests. At the conclusion of the EVC there will be a big farewell party for participants and accompanying persons. The Bremen Tourism Centre will offer a wide range of accommodation from small boarding-houses to a five star luxury hotel within walking distance to the hall. Before and after the event there are numerous possibilities to travel within the region or all over Germany. For accompanying persons and players alike Bremen offers a vast tourist programme. “Bremen is the city of short distances ” confirms Peter SIEMERING head of the Bremen Tourist Centre. “That is perfect – it gives you a chance to concentrate on the sport and in addition discover our fantastic city.”At European and World Veterans’ Championships Germany more often than not is represented by one of the biggest delegations with several hundred participants each. It is also one of the most successful delegations. At this year’s EVC in Liberec (CZE) German players accounted for 50 medals in 8 age categories and 4 competition classes (Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles). European Veteran’s Championships take place every two years. Everybody interested may enter – provided he is 40 years or older in 2013. In Germany appr. 200 000 veteran players men and women are active in its 10 000 table tennis clubs. For the 2013 EVC many Bremen citizens are expected too – as volunteers from the clubs and as participants. They may be led by multiple German Veterans’ Champions (Singles Doubles Team) Horst-Dieter COORSSEN and Peter EILERS. (by Simone HINZ courtesy DTTB).

05/09/2011 – The draw for the 2011 European Table Tennis Championships (8th to 16th October) in Polish Gdansk-Sopot was conducted today in the National Sport and Physical Academy in Gdansk. Reigning European champions team of Germany is seeded no.