European Veterans Championships 2007: a record number of players
This is the first newsletter about the 7th European Veterans Table Tennis Championships, which will be held in the Ahoy Sport and Exhibition Centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from 25 to 30 June 2007. During the weeks leading up to the event we shall keep you informed about the latest news and developments.
7th European Veterans Table Tennis Championships 2007: a record number of players!
By 1 March around 2.000 players had sent in their entries for the 7th European Veterans Table Tennis Championships in Rotterdam. This means that, six weeks before the deadline, the number of entries had equalled the final entry for the 6th European Veterans Table Tennis Championships in Bratislava in 2005. The organising committee expects over 2.100 entries at 15 April, the closing date for entries.
Since the maximum number of entries – 2800 – had not been reached by 1 March 2007, the maximum limits set for the number of players per country no longer apply.
The largest number of players comes from Germany. 820 German players have already registered in the first week of April. England is in second place with 160 entered players. The host country is third, on England’s heels with 155 entered players. The Czech Republic and France also have over 100 players participating. 35 countries will be represented
Confirmation sent to participants
All participants who have paid their entry fee have been sent a letter of confirmation by the organising committee. This letter includes the registration number and the age category in which the player will take part. There is no mention of the doubles tournament. Many doubles pairings have not yet been decided or have not been entered by both partners. Both players of a doubles partnership must confirm in advance that they wish to play with each other. Doubles pairings can be changed up to 12 noon on Monday 25 June 2007.
Extra facilities for players and accompanying persons
Players and accompanying persons can take advantage of a number of discounts offered by the organising committee. The most important of these are:
- discounts on hotel bookings at any one of the official hotels
- a 1-week parking card for the Ahoy car park: € 35 (normal price € 9 per day)
- shuttle service between hotel and Ahoy for the whole week (price depends on distance)
- shuttle service from Rotterdam Airport (€ 14) or Rotterdam Central Station (€ 10) to Ahoy and on to the hotel, and back at the end of the tournament. If you wish to make use of this service, contact the European Veterans Championships Office, Merijn 1, 5663 SP Geldrop, fax: +31 40 213 20 62, e-mail: info@evc2007.nl. State your time of arrival and we shall ensure that a bus will be there to meet you. You do not have to pay for this shuttle service in advance. Pay in the bus when you arrive.
No reduction possible for public transport between hotels and Ahoy
The organising committee is unfortunately not able to offer reduced fares for public transport between the hotels in the city centre and Ahoy. This means that all players and accompanying persons must buy their own public transport tickets. Single trip tickets, 1-day or several-day tickets can be purchased at all metro (underground) stations.
Opening evening
The official opening of these 7th European Veteran Table Tennis Championships will be held on Sunday evening, 24 June. It will be held in the Sportpaleis, the covered stadium in Ahoy, and will commence at 9 p.m. The doors will open at 8.30 p.m. The opening ceremony will comprise a varied programme with dancing, music and spectacle lasting about an hour and a quarter.
Farewell party
The farewell party on Friday evening 29 June 2007 will be held in Ahoy. This will have two separate parts:
- the first part is a dinner: a hot and a cold buffet. This will be served in one of the restaurants in Ahoy. The dinner will start at 7 p.m. and last until about 8.30 p.m. It will cost € 27.00 per person.
- The second part is the party. This will be held in one of the exhibition halls, transformed into a festive centre for about 2000 guests. It will open at 8.30 p.m. A live 13-piece band will play dance music to suit all tastes. The entrance fee for the party is € 32.00, which includes 2 drinks.
Admission to one or both parts of the farewell evening can be booked in advance via the booking form for hotels or extras. Up to 10 June 2007 it can also be booked by sending an E-mail or fax to the organisation, quoting your registration number. Reservations can also be made upon arrival in Rotterdam, but the cost will then be € 5.00 more per part per person.
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