Marta Nykl (left) and Dr Chandra Madosingh (right) in Vancouver(Photo: courtesy of Dr Chandra Madosingh) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Editor Vancouver, the magnificently located city on the west coast of Canada, emerged as the highly successful home for the inaugural 2016 Americas Masters Games. Staged from Friday 26th August to Sunday 4th September, sporting venues throughout the Greater Vancouver area were used with the table tennis events being held at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Over 10,000 athletes from 52 countries participated in the ten day event. “For table tennis, the age groups were divided from 35 to over 75 years categories. They registered from seven different countries. We followed Americas Masters Games policy and the ITTF laws were in effect. Ten Double Fish 45B tables
Year: 2016
Reminisce in Dublin, look forward in Belfast
Joe Veselsky left makes a presentation right to Jimmy Magee (Photo: courtesy of Pat O’Brien) by Ian Marshall, Editor Friends over many years met on Saturday 3rd September at a special gathering organised by the Swaythling Club Ireland at the Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan, Dublin. A total of 21 guests were welcomed by Ken Strong, the President of Table Tennis Ireland. All enjoyed a most convivial time, an occasion for reminiscing with old friends. Notably special awards were made five members of the group in recognition of their contributions to table tennis in the Emerald Isle; the recipients were Jimmy Magee, Barney Champion, Sonny Knowles, Marie Martin and Jimmy Fleming. In addition, Pat O’Brien, the President of the Swaythling Club Ireland, travelled to Belfast to meet
Borivoje Popovic, ITTF personal honorary member
Borivoje Popovic, sadly missed (Photo: courtesy of Popovic family) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor It is with great sadness that the death of Borivoje Popovic is announced; he was 90 years old. Elected honorary member of the International Table Tennis Federation in 1975, the accolade was a well-deserved recognition of his contribution to our sport. He lived in Serbia, a country with strong traditions in the sport of table tennis; over the years many fine players have come from that part of the world, the tradition continues today. However, on the other side of the coin, it is an area of the world that has witnessed immense political change; the political change is the lifetime of Borivoje Popovic. Now there is stability in the region,
Swaythling Club member carries Olympic Torch
A proud moment for Mario Tovar (Photo: Courtesy of Marcio Tovar) by Ian Marshall, Editor Lit in the Greek city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games, on Thursday 21st April; the Olympic Torch was presented to the Rio 2016 organisers on Wednesday 27 April following the traditional a tour around Greece. On Tuesday 3rd May, the Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Nissan, and Bradesco, officially commenced in the country’s capital city of Brazil; the 95 day tour around the country had begun. A journey around the country; on Friday 27th July, the torch reached Santos in São Paulo State, approximately 211 miles (340 kilometres) further south along the Atlantic coastline from Rio de Janeiro; about one by air, ten hours