Ukranian player on “home soil” in Norway

There are few Ukrainian table tennis players participating in the European Veterans Championships in Sandefjord. ETTU has taken an admirable stand point i supporting Ukraine in the war.

One Ukrainian player who feels very much at home in Sandefjord is Roman ODINTSOV who fled to Norway when the war started. As a table tennis player he immediately started searching for local table tennis clubs to continue with his beloved sport. He found what he was searching for in STIF Sandefjord the local table tennis club.

In STIF hel felt welcome from the very first minute and mr. ODINTSOV says table tennis helped him both to integrate into the local society and it also helped him to forget a little of all the traumas from experiencing the war at home.

His son Vadym ODINTSOV has started high school in Norway and is even more integrated in the local society than his father. They are both learning Norwegian and their wish is to settle down in Norway in a city that has taken so good care of them since their arrival.

Evy KRUSE administrative leader of the club and Ken-Vidar JOHANSEN the coach both agree that father and son ODINTSIV have contributed a lot to their table tennis club. The ODINTSOVs are the first to volunteer when work has to be done if it is arranging a table tennis tournement or recruiting new players they are there says the club leaders.

For Roman ODINTSOV it has been a pleasure to participate in the European Veterans Championships on his new «home soil».

Related News

ETTU Executive Board Appoints Senga THOMSON as Welfare Officer

The ETTU Executive Board has appointed Senga THOMSON as the new ETTU Welfare Officer. Serving in a voluntary and advisory capacity, the Welfare Officer acts as a key point of...

Read more

JOOLA Europe Youth Series Czech Open Set to Begin in Plzeň

The 2025 JOOLA Europe Youth Series Czech Open will take place from 22 to 26 October 2025 in Plzeň, Czechia. The event will bring together many of Europe’s most promising...

Read more

Great Britain Youth Academy Recruiting Lead Coach

21 October 2025 – The newly established Great Britain Youth Academy, developed in partnership with Grantham College and a local school, is inviting applications for the position of Head Coach....

Read more

France Crowned European Team Champions for the First Time Since 1998

Newly crowned European Team Champion is France. In the final of the men’s event at the European Team Championships 2025 in Zadar, the Olympic bronze medallists overcame Romania 3–0 to...

Read more

Contact

About Us

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

Powered By

All Competitions

Senior Competitions

Club Competitions

Youth Competitions

More Competitions