Atmospheric EVC opening in Bremen

The European Veterans Championships was open. On Sunday at 20:36, the Chairman of the ETTU Veterans Committee, Dr. Zdenko KRIZ said the well-known official formula to 3,500 enthusiastic spectators at the ÖVB-Arena in Bremen. The premiere of European Veter,

The European Veterans Championships was open. On Sunday at 20:36, the Chairman of the ETTU Veterans Committee, Dr. Zdenko KRIZ said the well-known official formula to 3,500 enthusiastic spectators at the ÖVB-Arena in Bremen. The premiere of European Veterans Championships in Germany is on now, the matches will last from May 27 to June 1.

The opening ceremony was atmospheric, acrobatic and fun offering a colorful 1.5-hours-programme to players, accompanying persons and spectators from Bremen.

The “Blues Brothers” of the TV Ludwigshafen were one of the top acts of the evening. They have just been awarded the official “Show group of the German Gymnastics Federation” for the fourth time in a row. Another highlight were the formation dancers of the Grün-Gold-Club Bremen, multiple German Champions, European Champions and World Champions.

Much applause received Roswitha WAHL and Renate RECKNAGEL. The two 70-somethings are reigning German Veterans Champions in Gymnastics and still in to shape even at the parallel bars. Sven MARÉE from Berlin showed his skills hanging from the ceiling, the rope artist also pulled the strings in the background and directed the entire show too.

DTTB Vice-President Mrs. Heike AHLERT welcomed the approximately 2,900 participants from all over Europe. “We very pleased with this high number of participants, the highest number at European Veterans Championships ever,” says AHLERT. “The number of prominent participants in the field is outstanding, too.” Thus, Mikael Appelgren of Sweden, the Germans Olga NEMES, JING Tian-Zörner, Zsolt-Georg BÖHM and Steffen FETZNER, the Russian Dmitrij MAZUNOV or Eliska KREJCOVA from Czech Republic, multiple World Champion of the 1940s and 1950s and reigning World Champion of the class 85 and above. Heike AHLERT wished all participants and accompanying persons “fantastic days in our huge table tennis family”.

ETTU representative Zdenko KRIZ emphasized a value of European Veterans Championships that goes beyond sport performances: “At this venue usually the professionals compete for World or European Championship titles. But European Veterans Championships are not only a sports event, but also stand for friendship and staying in touch with fellows and mades.”

Martin GÜNTHNER welcomed the spectators at the opening ceremony as the representative of the free Hanseatic City of Bremen. The 37 year-old Senator for Economics, Labour and Ports was perfectly in the topic, called Bremen with the “long tradition of major table tennis events a table tennis stronghold” and stated: “We are ready to host outstanding European Veterans Championships.”

Facing mostly table tennis experts in the ÖVB-Arena, GÜNTHNER congratulated also the top players of local Bundesleague club SV Werder Bremen, CHUANG Chih-Yuan, for winning the World title in doubles recently. The Senator wished successful competitions to all players and all those involved “an unforgettable week in Bremen”.

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