From October 12 to 19, Zadar will host the European Team Championships. The Višnjik Sports Hall will welcome 24 men’s and 24 women’s national teams, bringing together more than 200 athletes, including the very elite of European table tennis. Hosting such a prestigious event is a major recognition for Croatian sport. The details were presented at a press conference where the Croatian Table Tennis Association and OTP Bank signed a sponsorship agreement.
ETTU Vice President Zoran PRIMORAC also the President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association (HSTS) and celebrated Zadar native with as many as seven Olympic appearances, emphasized the great honor of hosting the championship:
“When I became President of the Association, my wish was to bring a major tournament to Croatia. And as someone from Zadar, it was my dream that the event would be held here in Zadar,” said PRIMORAC.
He expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the City of Zadar, and the County for their support.
“I hope this will be a wonderful tournament, a true festival of table tennis. I expect many spectators and fans to come so that we can promote table tennis, a beautiful sport with a long tradition, and of course to promote Zadar as an attractive tourist and sports destination. I am convinced that fans from all over Croatia will come to watch great table tennis stars, Olympic medalists, and to cheer on our own players who will be fighting for medals here”.
The Croatian men’s team will play in a group with Moldova and Austria, while the women’s team will seek a place in the knockout stage from a group with Italy and England.
The championship also carries historic significance: in 1971, Zadar hosted the very first tournament for Europe’s best table tennis players under the name Top 12, which later became a respected regular competition.
