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PALO ALTO, CA., May 4, 2005 —Officials of the International
Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) meeting in Shanghai, China
have awarded the 2007 World Junior Table Tennis Championships
to the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC), Stanford
University and USA Table Tennis. Never held in North America
before, the event is scheduled for December 9 to December
16, and will involve some 200 contestants from 25 countries.
Over 200 countries are eligible to qualify to compete.
BASOC President and CEO Anne Warner Cribbs, along with Executive
Committee Co-Chair Mike Bruner, Executive Committee member
Melinda Yee, USA Table Tennis President Sheri Pittman, and
U.S. National Coach and President of the Palo Alto Tennis
Club Dennis Davis made the final winning presentation in Shanghai.
Davis will serve as head of the Local Organizing Committee
for the competition, ensuring premium conditions for athletes,
coaches and referees alike.
“We are absolutely delighted and honored to be able
to host the Junior Worlds,” said Cribbs. “The
sport at this level is fast and intense. We know the Bay Area
will embrace the Worlds with great interest and support.”
Stanford University will provide two venues for the competition,
Maples Pavilion and Burnham Pavilion. This format will allow
for all the practice, elimination and final rounds in settings
that will maximize spectator opportunities as well.
“Stanford is pleased to partner again with BASOC,
as well as with USA Table Tennis in this endeavor. We are
proud to showcase our campus and its world-class facilities
and look forward to warmly welcoming the World Championships
in December of 2007,” noted Dr. Ted Leland, Stanford
University Director of Athletics.
An Olympic sport since 1988, under international rules Juniors
can be up to 18 years in age. In the U.S. the sport is developing
and the 2007 Worlds will be a good measure of progress heading
into the 2008 Games in Beijing, China. As presently planned,
the Worlds will entail singles and doubles for men and women,
with a total of 60 team and individual medals to be awarded.
“For our growth and improvement having the Worlds
here in the United States, particularly the Bay Area, is critical
to advancing enthusiasm and participation in the sport,”
added Davis. “We know our kids have the heart to compete.
We have to give them the same access to coaching, technical
assistance and international tournaments as today’s
best teams enjoy.”
Founded in 1987, BASOC works to bring high profile national
and international sporting events to the Bay Area, with the
ultimate goal of hosting an Olympic Summer Games. BASOC has
bid twice to host the Olympic Games, most recently earning
a “Silver Medal” finish to New York City for the
right to represent the U.S. for the 2012 Olympics. In addition
to the 2007 Junior World Table Tennis Championships, BASOC
last fall was awarded the 2009 National Senior Games, and
was a partner in the winning bid for next summer’s FINA
World Masters Swimming Championships. Stanford University
will serve as the primary venue for both the National Senior
Games and FINA Masters Championships.
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