State and Territory Associations and TTA Board Sub-Committees

TTA Statement Regarding National Championships Regulations Amendments

TTA recently announced the consolidation of the Regulations for the Junior, Senior & Youth and Veterans National Championships into a single document. This change was made given that the operational and management requirements of all National Championships are consistent. It is noted that specific characteristics for each National Championships, primarily related to competition requirements, have been maintained, where practicable.

In addition to consolidating the Regulations, amendments were made to some specific rules within the Regulations. When determining whether any amendments were required, TTA took the following into consideration: feedback survey after the 2018 National Senior & Youth Championships; feedback survey after the 2018 National Veterans Championships; ongoing dialogue with multiple key stakeholders from all areas of the sport, including State and Territory Associations. Overall, more than 500 people directly contributed to the feedback process.

The rationale for making amendments to specific rules in the Regulations was based on:

1. There is a need to ensure that all National Championships can be conducted in a time efficient and cost effective fashion. It is becoming problematic to source venues that are reasonably priced and big enough to host National Championships, most notably for the National Veterans Championships and National Junior Championships.

2. With TTA now managing all National Championships in conjunction with Host State/Territory Associations, there is a desire to ensure consistency across all events where advantageous.

TTA is aware there has been some concern around the decision to amend some rules within the Regulations, particularly in relation to overseas competitors participating in the National Veterans Championships. There has been some incorrect commentary that no international competitors are able to compete in the National Veterans Championships. TTA wishes to clarify the facts related to this point:

• Competitors from all ITTF-Oceania countries/territories (inc. New Zealand) may participate in the event. TTA has a strong historical connection with TTNZ and given Australia is the largest member of ITTF-Oceania, we have some responsibility to assist with the development of the region.

• Competitors from outside ITTF-Oceania countries/territories may seek to participate if they can demonstrate special circumstances. This ensures consistency with the National Junior Championships and the National Senior & Youth Championships. It is anticipated that some competitors from outside ITTF-Oceania countries/territories will demonstrate special circumstances and compete in the event this year.

Additionally, last week it was announced that Townsville Table Tennis Association has been granted a license to host a leg of the ITTF World Veterans Tour. This event is open to all international competitors. TTA was aware of the intention to hold a leg of the ITTF World Veterans Tour in Australia this year when the decisions to amend the rules of the Regulations were made.

TTA also considered the number of competitors from outside ITTF-Oceania countries who have attended the National Veterans Championships in recent years. Over the last five years less than 3% of all competitors have been from outside ITTF-Oceania countries/territories.

TTA understands and respects that some competitors may take an alternate view to some or all of the amendments to the rules in the Regulations.

Ends.

Scott Houston

Chief Executive Officer

Table Tennis Australia Ltd.