The inaugural Open European Games of TT Hopes will take place from 18 to 21 June 2026 in Hungary, bringing together Europe’s most promising young table tennis players in the Veszprém–Balaton region. The event will be staged across Veszprém, Balatonfüred and Várpalota, areas recognized as the European Sports Region 2026. Organized by the European Sport Region 2026 Project and supported by the Hungarian Government and local municipalities, the competition will feature U13 and U15 boys’ and girls’ singles and team events, as well as youth para competitions, with athletes competing for prizes and ETTU ranking points. Matches will be played at the Veszprém Aréna, Balatonfüred Sport Park and Várpalota Sport Hall, with a total of 70 tables available. The tournament will follow ITTF rules, with singles events played in group and knockout stages and team events in the Davis Cup system. Beyond the sporting program, participants will have access to a range of cultural and recreational activities around Lake Balaton, one of Central Europe’s most popular destinations. Entries are open to national associations, regional delegations and clubs, with the closing date for registration set for 20 May 2026. E-mail address: tt.hopes2026@sportregion.hu.

The Czech Table Tennis Association (CTTA) has announced the opening of the selection procedure for the position of Head Coach of the Senior Women’s National Team. The successful candidate will lead preparations toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and oversee the development and performance of the Czech senior women’s squad at the highest international level. The Head Coach will be responsible for preparing and coaching the Senior Women’s National Team for major competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, National European League matches and selected WTT events. The role includes managing the training process at the National Training Center in Havířov, coordinating team activities, overseeing player selection and evaluation, and leading the team at training camps in the Czech Republic and abroad. Additional duties involve long-term planning of players’ development within a four-year Olympic cycle, maintaining training documentation, conducting regular performance and video analysis with athletes, and working closely with club coaches, national team staff and CTTA specialists. The Head Coach will also cooperate with the High-Performance Sports Commission, fitness trainers and other experts, while actively participating in coaching seminars and professional education programs. Applicants are required to submit a curriculum vitae focused on their sporting background and a personal coaching plan outlining their vision for the Senior Women’s National Team with regard to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. Candidates must hold an A-license or an international coaching qualification, have at least five years of coaching experience, demonstrate good health, teamwork and communication skills, possess working knowledge of a foreign language (ideally English), computer literacy and a valid driving license. The position offers the opportunity to work with a competitive women’s team targeting qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The contract (self-employed basis) will run from 1 July 2026 to 31 July 2028. Financial conditions will be discussed individually during the interview process. The deadline for applications is 28 February 2026. Applications and inquiries can be addressed to President of the Association Nikolas ENDAL nikolas.endal@gmail.com and to Chair of the High-Performance Sports Commission Iveta VACENOVSKA i.vacenovska@seznam.cz

From 4 to 8 March 2026, the town of Vrsar will once again become a hub of European veterans’ table tennis. The Saline Sports Hall will host the second edition of the international veterans’ tournament Stone Racket of Istria, which has already broken records – players from as many as 22 European countries have registered. Great news for those still considering taking part: registration has been extended until Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at midnight. “I’m delighted to see tournaments like this, especially when the host provides such excellent conditions. People were extremely satisfied last year, and Maistra and STK Vrsar did an outstanding job. This could very easily become the most beautiful veterans’ tournament in Europe,” said Zoran PRIMORAC. The tournament is organised in cooperation with the renowned Maistra hotel group, the Vrsar Tourist Board, the Municipality of Vrsar, Grand Tour agency, and STK Vrsar. Stone Racket of Istria is open to players aged 40 to 80+, with competitions held in singles and doubles, in both men’s and women’s categories. Last year’s inaugural edition brought together more than 100 participants from 12 countries, while the second edition has exceeded all expectations – representatives of 22 nations will compete in Vrsar. In practical terms, Vrsar will host a mini European Veterans Championship in March 2026. Spectators were also thrilled by last year’s exhibition matches, featuring a legendary clash between Jörgen PERSSON and Zoran PRIMORAC, as well as a women’s exhibition match with Branka BATINIĆ and Mirela ŠIKORONJA-IVANČIN. The tournament was further honoured by the presence of Vladimir SAMSONOV as a special guest. Organisers have announced that more world-class table tennis names will appear in 2026, with details to be revealed at a later date. “As in the first edition, the tournament will offer a rich off-court programme, including organised trips and experiences across the beautiful Istrian region. We have combined three key elements – play, fun and experience,” added Bernard MUSULIN, Head of Destination Product Development at Maistra. Ahead of the tournament, from 1 to 4 March 2026, Vrsar will also host the ‘Zoran PRIMORAC Table Tennis Masterclass’, a special educational training camp. Players of all ages are welcome to participate, and registration for the camp is also open until 17 February 2026. Participants will have the opportunity to train directly with Zoran Primorac, alongside four additional professional coaches. The number of places will be limited. All additional information and registration details are available on the official website www.stoneracketistria.com and on the tournament’s official Facebook page.