MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman will step up their hosting credentials to the premium level when capital city Muscat hosts the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2023 for the first time in the Middle East.
The world event will bring an expected 3,500 players from 70 nations to the Oman Convention
and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) for a week of action from January 15-21 .
The official logo and mascot for the championships were announced at a press conference held at OCEC where representatives from the organising committee – the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) and Oman Sail – outlined their vision for the event.
The championships will be staged throughout OCEC, utilising the five exhibition halls for 277
competition spaces. Players will range from the age of 40 to over 90 and will compete in different
age categories with 44 world titles to be won.
ITTF President Petra Sorling said, “We are delighted to be coming to Oman in 2023 and expand the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships to the Middle East for the first time. Now in its 40th year, the championships have brought together the best veteran players from around the world, and we are all looking forward to experiencing a new host venue. This is a beautiful and welcoming country with a growing reputation for staging world class events in many sporting disciplines and we are extremely confident that OCEC will be the ideal venue for the event.”
OTTA President Abdullah Bamakhalaf said, “This is a proud moment for the Oman Table Tennis Association and a major step forward in the development of the sport in both Oman and the region. The event has the potential to deliver wide-ranging benefits to the country, energise the tourism sector, provide further impetus for enhancing Oman’s capabilities as a world class host of events, and leave a positive social legacy for the entire country.”
Khalil al Muhannadi, Vice-President of ITTF, President of ATTU, Arab and Qatar Table Tennis
Federation, said, “The staging of the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2023 in the
Sultanate of Oman is a huge boost to the sport across the entire region. For the first time, some of
the world’s best players will head to the Middle East for a prestigious international tournament. We
hope that this helps to raise the profile of the sport across the Middle East and we can look forward
to more championships coming to the region in the future.”
'AL WASHAQ' NAMED MASCOT
The organisers also unveiled the official logo and mascot for the Championships. Taking inspiration
from the natural environment, the logo depicts a table tennis paddle adorned with colours of
Oman’s spectacular landscape and a ball showing the nation’s geographical location, while the
native cat Al Washaq (Caracal Lynx), known for its power and agility, will be the official mascot.
The event will showcase the best of Omani culture along and offer participants the opportunity to
explore Muscat, enjoy the local landmarks, culture, and authentic Arabian experiences.
The organising committee will work alongside 'Visit Oman' to create bespoke tourism experiences for attendees to enjoy. Activities will be delivered by SME operators within Muscat and the neighbouring governorates to ensure that the in-country value is shared to benefit the wider national tourism sector.
First held in Goteborg, Sweden, in 1982, with just 450 participants from 21 countries, the World
Veteran Table Tennis Championships have grown to become a major fixture in the global calendar.
Held every two years until the unfortunate cancellation of the 2020 event due to be staged in
Bordeaux, France, the 2023 event will be the first since 2018 in Las Vegas, USA, which attracted close
to 4,000 players from 86 countries.
Event Schedule
*January 15, 2023: Opening ceremony
* January 16, 2023: Singles competitions, Group stage
* January 17, 2023: Singles and Doubles competitions, Group stage
* January 18, 2023: Day off/Touristic offer
* January 19, 2023: Singles and Doubles competitions, Knockout round
* January 20, 2023: Singles and Doubles competitions, Knockout round
* January 21, 2023: Singles and Doubles semifinals and finals
Age Categories
* 40-44 years
* 45-49 years
* 50-54 years
*55-59 years
* 60-64 years
* 65-69 years
* 70-74 years
* 75-79 years
* 80-84 years
* 85-89 years
* Over 90 years
Past hosts (participants/nations)
* 1982 - Goteborg, Sweden (450/21)
* 1984 – Helsinki, Finland (650/36)
* 1986 – Rimini, Italy (1100/38)
* 1988 – Zagreb, Croatia (1650/45)
* 1990 – Baltimore, USA (1100/46)
* 1992 - Dublin, Ireland (1300/48)
* 1994 – Melbourne, Australia (1800/49)
* 1996 – Lillehammer, Norway (1950/49)
* 1998 – Manchester, England (1400/53)
* 2000 – Vancouver, Canada (1850/57)
*2002 – Lucerne, Switzerland (2750/63)
* 2004 – Yokohama, Japan (2384/47)
* 2006 – Bremen, Germany (3650/59)
* 2008 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1378/52)
*2010 – Hothot, China (2065/51)
* 2012 – Stockholm, Sweden (3335/66)
* 2014 – Auckland, New Zealand (1640/58)
* 2016 – Alicante, Spain (4602/82)
* 2018 – Las Vegas, USA (3964/86)
* 2020 – Bordeaux, France (no event held)
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
