It's with great pleasure that I would like to invite all of you to come to the 18 World Veteran Championships to be held in Spain in 2016. The cities of Alicante and Elche, in the Costa Blanca, heart of the Mediterranean, will welcome all of you from 23rd to 29th May 2016 to an unforgettable experience. Our goal is to join the excellent infrastructure that the touristic region of la Comunitat Valenciana has with the Mediterranean style of life, to link our sport practiced at the top level to this Region with the top touristic level. I am convinced that you will find an excellent table tennis venue and, at the same time, you can also experience the excellent possibilities for tourism during your free time. It is a big opportunity to discover this beautiful Region and, at the same time, practice our sport in excellent conditions.
The Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation is very proud to organize a World Championships for Veterans for the first time in its history: a big challenge because it is a big event and our wish is to organize the biggest world table tennis event ever.
The playing facility, the IFA Exhibition Centre, is placed very close to the airport and to the city centres of Alicante and Elche, both cities with excellent accommodation and all kind of services. IFA is a huge and modern venue that allows us to organize a very compact event, all very close to you: the airport, the venue, the hotels and a great touristic offer. We are confident that we have all the requirements to deliver a perfect frame for this great event.
Spain has organized in the past two European Youth Championships, one Junior World Championships, several Iberoamerican Championships, and is organising, in a yearly basis the International Spanish Youth Open in Platja d'Aro and the International Spanish Open in Almería as regular events on the ITTF Junior Circuit and the ITTF World Tour . We have an experienced team organising international table tennis events. It is now the time for this team to apply all its know-how to the service of a World Veterans event. I am convinced that together with our partners, the cities of Alicante and Elche, the province of Alicante, the Region, la Comunitat Valenciana, and the Spanish Government, and also counting with the big support of our private sponsors, all together will be able to organise a great event in a fantastic surroundings. I am happy to inform you that the most prestigious company offering accommodation and transport services for sports events in Spain, Viajes El Corte Inglés, has already join our team as official partner.
I would like finally, from the bottom of my heart, to express my deep gratitude to the Swaythling Club International, leaded by Mr. Eberhard and Mrs. Diane Schöler and the World Veteran Championsips Committee, chaired by Mr. Hans Westling for giving us the opportunity to organise the 2016 World Veteran Table Tennis Championships.
In May 2016, please try to visit us. Please come to Spain, to the Costa Blanca, visit the cities of Alicante and Elche and enjoy this Region together with your table tennis skills. Be part of this unforgettable experience!
You are more than welcome!
Miguel Ángel Machado
President of de Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation
