LOOPS Table Tennis Becomes A National Training Centre

TTA is pleased to announce that LOOPS Table Tennis in Melbourne has been named as a National Training Centre. Through an agreement, the TTA National Squad (able-bodied and para) will train at LOOPS Table Tennis multiple times per week.

TTA CEO, Scott Houston, was pleased with the announcement, ‘LOOPS Table Tennis is one of the premier table tennis venues in Australia and we’re delighted that our National Squad athletes will have access to outstanding conditions. LOOPS Table Tennis' values and philosophy are well matched with TTA, so it makes sense to work together for the betterment of our great game. TTA has been impressed with the ongoing growth at LOOPS Table Tennis and we’re thankful for their support. TTA is also pleased that our able-bodied and para athletes will be able to work side by side as they hone their development; being inclusive is important to us and we fully understand the clear benefits inclusion creates’.

Upon signing the agreement, LOOPS Table Tennis Director, Simon Gerada, commented ‘it has been a creation of a variety of people – from the team at LOOPS working in the construction of the venue, our membership, our partners and of course the Table Tennis Australia team’. Gerada went on to say ‘it has been a complete team effort of trying to bring High Performance facilities and opportunities to an area that is obviously required. We want to provide something special to take care of our athletes, parents and sport overall. We need to recognise that the highest standard training facilities and opportunities like this one is where results will come from. The more opportunities we can provide the better off our sport will be in terms future development and representation on an international stage. We are delighted to be the first to partner with Table Tennis Australia as a National Training Centre and look forward to the continued growth of our sport in general.’

This is the first of many planned National Training bases around Australia. Through the recently launched Strategic Plan, performance is one of the key priorities and TTA is working towards ensuring that training centres are operating in all States and Territories. From a performance perspective, creating and maintaining internationally competitive athletes (able-bodied and para) is the highest priority. Ensuring that more athletes are given the opportunity to train more often will provide the best chance of achieving this. TTA has started dialogue with all State and Territory Associations around establishing ongoing training environments and we look forward to bringing more news in the coming months around this.

Conflict of interest declaration: TTA Board Member Eddie Kocjancic has a declared conflict of interest with LOOPS Table Tennis. As per TTA conflict of interest management protocols, Eddie Kocjancic was not involved in the discussions or decisions making process related to this agreement.