(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)

World Table Tennis Day ever closer, Thursday 6th April, the third edition of the initiative; now, even before the official date, the efforts have been recognised!

Surely that is something special and is high praise to all concerned; the International Table Tennis Federation has been shortlisted for the Sports Business Awards 2017. The winners will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony staged on Friday June 2nd at the Brewery in London; 400 guests are expected

I suspect there a few who would refuse an invitation to an establishment with such a name, but the Brewery is rather more than just another venue where beer is consumed.

It is a listed building which was the centre of the Whitbread Company’s beer making empire in the 18th century. Now it is an upmarket centre for major occasions being in the east of England’s capital city, not too far from the ExCeL Exhibition Centre which hosted the table tennis events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Some 70 organisations have been nominated for awards that recognise the efforts made in making sport happen and success possible.

The judges comprise Chief Executive Officers from a wide range of backgrounds and include notable names in the guise of celebrate hurdler Colin Jackson and Sir Steve Redgrave who is the Jörgen Persson of rowing!

He retires and then returns; although with due respect to the Swede, rather more successfully. Immediately after winning gold at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games; he stated if anyone found him close to a rowing boat again they could shoot him. He won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games!

Arguably the greatest Olympic ever; commencing in Los Angeles in 1984, he won gold at five consecutive Olympic Games.

It will be the first time the awards have been made; the same team that launched the Football Business Awards five years ago, is organising proceedings.

Sports Business Awards 2017: Full details
Sports Business Awards 2017: List of finalists
Sports Business Awards 2017: Panel of judges

Full article here