Following a presentation to the ETTU Executive Board the Austrian TT-Federation has awarded Linz the contract to host the European Championships in October 2024 and the ETTU Executive Board approved the city as the host for the 2024 European Championships.
“After Tyrol’s cancellation the state of Upper Austria has made a great deal of effort to organize it and we are looking forward to a good cooperation with Governor Thomas STELZER and Sports Provincial Markus ACHLEITNER” said ÖTTV-President Wolfgang GOTSCHKE.
President Wolfgang GOTSCHKE is looking forward to great European Championships with local hero Sofia POLCANOVA as the reigning European Champion at the top of the list . ACHLEITNER justified the application:
“This European Championships represents an enormous advertising value for Upper Austria.”
Up to 50 nations with a total of 600 players coaches and officials are expected. In addition there is the good geographical location of Linz with its proximity to Bavaria and the Czech Republic. The TipsArena is perfect for handling the entire event. Linz is also experienced as an organizer as the World Team Cup 2009 the Youth World Championships 2005 and most recently four ITTF Platinum events have taken place in the TipsArena.
At the presentation in Munich Innsbruck was presented as a preferred candidate.
“However after the Tyrol elections the state gave preference to other sports. So we were forced to look for a new organizer ” explains EC-Ambassador and ÖTTV Vice President Stefan FEGERL. “Upper Austria then applied as a table tennis leader and we were able to come to an agreement with Sports Provincial Markus ACHLEITNER ” explains President Wolfgang GOTSCHKE pleased that the European Championships will be staged in the hometown of the reigning European Champion Sofia POLCANOVA.
The next steps: After the planning of the EC budget of about 2 million Euro the road shows to advertise the big event in all other federal states will be organized.
Local hero Sofia POLCANOVA is also looking forward to the support of the red-white-red fans. Upper Austria’s current Sportswoman of the Year who returned from the European Championships in Alicante 2018 and Munich 2022 with three medals each wants to expand her impressive collection of medals in Linz:
“Major sporting events are the absolute career highlights for every athlete. When you can experience something like this almost on your own doorstep it’s even more special. 2024 will be a special sporting year. On the one hand because of the Olympic Games in Paris on the other side because of the European Championships at home where I have to defend two titles ” said Sofia POLCANOVA.
