(ATR) Budapest is all but guaranteed to host the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships.
The ITTF, the sport’s governing body, revealed on Friday that the Hungarian capital was the only bidder for the event.
ITTF CEO Judit Farago said in a statement that though there were "inquiries from different countries from four continents, by the deadline Budapest was the only valid bid received."
The announcement came after ITTF officials visited the SYMA Sport and Events Centre in Budapest, the venue proposed for the Championships to determine that it was suitable to host the world's biggest table tennis event.
Officially, Budapest must still present their bid to the ITTF at the annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Mar. 1. At that time, the delegates will decide if they approve the bid.
Hungary, with more World Championship gold medals than any nation except China, has not hosted the sport’s marquee event since 1950. But Hungary does host an ITTF World Tour and World Junior Circuit event every year, and Budapest will be the home for this year's ITTF-European Championships.
Landing the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships should help Budapest in its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The city faces some tough competition for the event with Los Angeles, Paris and Rome also in the running.
2023 World Ski Championships
In other federation bidding news, the French Skiing Federation (FFS) has selected a joint bid of Courcheval and Maribel to represent France in the race to host the 2023 World Alpine Ski Championships.
The FFS says the plan calls for Courchevel to be the venue for the men’s downhill, super-G and super-combined as well as the women’s giant slalom.
Meribel would be the host for women’s downhill, super G and super combined and the men’s giant slalom as well as team events.
France has hosted the event only once since 1968 with Val d’Isere doing the honors in 2009.
The deadline to submit a bid to FIS is May 2017. Austria is the only other country to be considering a bid, with Saalbach or St. Anton in the mix. The winning candidate will be decided in June 2018.
Written by Gerard Farek
For general comments or questions,click here.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
McLaren report to FIBA confirms abuses in the Mali women’s basketball program
The investigation could not “independently verify” allegations against FIBA president Hamane Niang, who has resumed his duties after stepping aside during the probe.
ATR Extra: 1st ISF U15 World School Sport Games – Belgrade 2021
Olympic Channel is live streaming the basketball, basketball 3x3, football, judo and wrestling competitions during the event, which runs September 11-19.
International Judo Federation bans Algerian athlete and coach for 10 years for refusing to fight an Israeli at Tokyo 2020
Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef admitted they were withdrawing from competition to avoid a potential match with Tohar Butbul of Israel.
IIHF bans Belarus hockey president for five years for code of conduct violations - Federation Focus
Also: no contested election for next ITTF president; BWF calendar shrinks as event in India cancelled due to pandemic; FISU announces early bids for 2027 and 2029 World University Games
