The 7th European Veterans Table Tennis Championship will be held in Rotterdam from Monday, 25 June to Saturday, 30 June 2007. The Netherlands Table Tennis Association and the city of Rotterdam are looking forward to hosting so many table tennis players from across Europe. The tournament will be held in Ahoy sport and event complex. Ahoy complex includes many halls, the largest of which has a playing surface of 10,000 m2. The entire championship will take place in this gigantic hall, using a total of 144 tables. In order to insure that the matches run smoothly, and that the days are not too long for the participants, the organisation will accept a maximum of 2,800 participants.

This first bulletin provides extensive information concerning the EVC in Rotterdam in 2007, ranging from championship news to other matters involved in making your stay in Rotterdam as pleasant as possible. The second bulletin will follow in September 2006, including more detailed information, programme options for the free day, and suggestions for extending your stay in order to enjoy more of Rotterdam and the Netherlands.

Rotterdam has much to offer the players and those who accompany them. With over 600,000 inhabitants, Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands. The city is best known for its harbour, which is Europe’s largest. The organisation has arranged for a wide range of accommodation in hotels, a bungalow park in the vicinity, and in camping and caravan plots next to the Ahoy hall.

The city offers many cultural activities and tourist attractions. There are a wide range of large, pleasant shopping centres, one of which is located directly across from the Ahoy location. From the Ahoy, the city centre is easily accessible by public transport. In fact, there is a metro stop directly opposite the tournament hall. The Ahoy is also easily accessible by car, as it is only 1 km from the motorway.

Accreditations
Both players and accompanying persons will be accredited. Their personal accreditation pass of course grants free entry to the tournament hall during matches. The opening ceremony and the closing evening are reserved exclusively for accredited persons. No separate tickets will be sold for these events.

Players and accompanying persons will receive several gifts from the organisation, as well as a programme booklet. Moreover, special services will be arranged for transportation to and from the airport or train station upon arrival and departure. Naturally, the participants will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the championship at no extra cost.

Hotels and transport
Accredited persons can make use of special offers for booking a room in one of the official hotels. The special EVC hotel prices are listed in this brochure. From September on, the organisation will be offering special deals for hotels in combination with a shuttle service. There will also be special offers for using public transport in the city. For those who travel to Rotterdam by car, it will be possible to park the vehicle in the secure Ahoy parking lot during the entire championship. A reduction voucher for parking during the entire week is available exclusively to accredited persons.

Bettine Vriesekoop
The Netherlands’ all-time best table tennis player, and two-time European champion, Bettine Vriesekoop, has already promised to participate in the EVC 2007. She cherishes sweet memories of the Ahoy hall.

In 1984, she won the Women’s Singles in the Dutch Open Championships. Bettine would like to become the European champion in her age group among the veterans. It would be her fifth European title in singles. In 1977 and 1979, she became European youth champion, and in 1982 and 1992, she became European champion in Women Singles. Who knows, perhaps Bettine will succeed in conquering one or more titles among the veterans to add to her already impressive awards cabinet!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

webdesign by
Veldmaat ICT