|
|
|
|
|
Table tennis: New Olympic format decided
|
|
2005-12-19 15:03
Xinhuanet
|
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The International Table Tennis Federation has decided the format for the team events at the Olympic Games 2008, according to the ITTF website.
It will be the first time that team events have been staged at the Olympic Games.
The principles followed by the Olympic Commission when making their decision were that a maximum of five matches should comprise a fixture, three players must compete with all players having the opportunity to play in two matches in each contest.
No player will play more than two matches in each fixture.
The contest will start with two singles matches.
The third match will be doubles and must include the player who has not been selected in either of the preceding singles matches.
Following the doubles, there will be two further singles matches; those involved being the player who competed only in the doubles and the player who did not participate in the doubles.
There will be a total of 16 teams in the men’s event and 16 teams in the women’s event.
One place is allocated to the hosts; one place is allotted to each of the six continents with the remaining nine places being determined by the highest ranked players relevant to those who have qualified to compete in the singles events.
It is mandatory that the number of athletes present does not exceed the numbers established by the International Olympic Committee for the Athens Olympic Games; therefore, reserves are not permitted and it is quite possible that some players will compete in the team events only.
The number accepted by the International Olympic Committee is 86 men and 86 women; this number comprises 64 men and 64 women forthe singles events with 22 places being available in order to makeup the 16 teams. However, should the full quota of 22 places not be required for either of the team events then these places will be allocated to the World Qualification tournament.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
