Mixed Doubles might be at Olympics in 2020

ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT  held a press-conference at the 2015 Qoros World Table Tennis Championships at the Suzhou International Expo Centre. Day before he had a meeting with the players so he said that the organizers  got the very good compliment f

ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT  held a press-conference at the 2015 Qoros World Table Tennis Championships at the Suzhou International Expo Centre. Day before he had a meeting with the players so he said that the organizers  got the very good compliment from that meeting:“There were no complaints about the sport conditions so that should be a big compliment for the organizers. That means sport conditions to play here are very good.”

There will be some news regarding Olympic Events in Japan.  “The agenda for 2020 from the IOC is interesting for us because the it says they want to have mixed events. I spoke with International Olympic Committee president Thomas BACH to have a fifth competition in the 2020 Olympics so probably the mixed doubles.”

WEIKERT said that cooperation between China and Europe must be strengthened. Not only that players should practice more in China but the exchange of coaches will also be very important.

The question of the trend of Chinese players obtaining foreign citizenship to represent other countries was also rised. “It’s a big issue especially in Europe and my opinion is very clear. It is not welcomed if you today play for China and tomorrow you play for whichever country. I think this is not correct but if you have time to adapt to the country for example a Chinese player wants to live in Europe and he lives there for five years or eight years and then you get a German or English or Swiss passport then in my opinion it’s reasonable that you can play in this country.”

The question of qualification system for the World Championships is very important topic. There was a doubt should the Championships remain free for every nation or some qualification system should be installed. “Last year we made the rule that only 96 teams can participate at the team championships. This will not affect the women – in 2014 Tokyo we had 94 women’s teams – but it will affect the men’s teams because we have more than 110.”

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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.

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