On behalf of the German Table Tennis Association, I have pleasure to invite your players to participate in the 37^th German Open Table Tennis Championships.

Organizers:      Deutscher Tischtennis-Bund             in co-operation with

                            Tischtennis-Verband Sachsen-Anhalt

                            Tischtennis Marketing GmbH

Venue:                 Bördelandhalle Magdeburg

                            Berliner Chaussee 32

                            39114 Magdeburg

                            Tel: 00 49 / 3 91 / 5 93 45 96 (Venue-Management)

Events:                 Men’s Singles                      Women’s Singles

                            Men’s Doubles                     Women’s Doubles

                            Under 21 Men’s Singles        Under 21 Women’s Singles

Prov. Schedule:   Thursday 17^th October           Qualifying Rounds Men’s/Women’s Singles/Doubles

                            Friday 18^th October         Rounds 1 and 2 Men’s and Women’s Singles

                                                                       Round 1 Men’s and Women’s Doubles

                                                                       Under 21 Tournament Qualifying Rounds

                            Saturday 19^th October    Quarterfinals and Semifinals Men’s/Women’s Doubles

                                                                       Round 3 and Quarterfinals Men’s/Women’s Singles

                             Under 21 Tournament Qualifying Rounds and Tournament Proper (only on Saturday will be played in a different hall, 5km away from the venue, Lunch for Under 21 Participants will be served there)

                            Sunday 20^th October             Semifinals and Finals Men’s/Women’s Singles

                                                                       Finals Men’s/Women’s Doubles

                                                                       Under 21 Tournament Finals

System of Play:    Men’s and Women’s Singles Qualification and Tournament Proper, Men’s and Women’s Doubles Tournament Proper and the Under 21 Tournament Proper will be the best of 7 games. The Doubles Qualification and the Under 21 Qualification will be the best of 5 games.

                            There will be 32 Direct Entries for the Tournament Proper in Singles and 8 Direct Entries for the Tournament Proper in Doubles.

                            With the exception of the Qualifying Rounds of the Men’s and Women’s Singles and the Qualifying Rounds of the Under 21 Tournament, all events will be played in the knock-out system.

Playing

Conditions:           The German Open 2002 will be played in one hall with 16 tables.

                            There also will be a separate practice hall within the main venue with 9 tables.

                            The Under 21 Tournament will be played in the main venue on Friday and Sunday. On Saturday it will be played in a different hall with 12 tables.

Equipment:          Tables:                DONIC Delhi (blue)

                            Nets:                  DONIC STRESS

                            Balls:                  TIBHAR *** (white)

                            Playing Floor:      TARAFLEX PVC red, thickness 3,7 mm

Prize Money:        Total prize money for the Pro-Tour events will be US-$ 90.100.- broken down as follows:

                                                         1^st Place    2^nd Place 3^rd Place (2x)  5^th-8^th Place (4x)   9^th-16^thPlace (8x)

                            Men’s Singles        $ 15.000.-  $ 7.500.-  $ 3.750.-         $ 1.875.-             $ 1.000.-    

                            Women’s Singles   $ 10.000.-  $ 5.000.-  $ 2.500.-         $ 1.250.-             $ 700.-

                            Men’s Doubles       $ 4.000.-    $ 2.000.-  $ 1.000.-

                            Women’s Doubles  $ 3.000.-    $ 1.500.-  $    750.-

According to German law the prize money for our foreign guests has to be reduced due to the capital gains and solidarity taxes (max. 30.33%). Players, who reside in Germany and pay their income taxes in Germany will receive the full prize money including the German sales tax of 16%. They have to pay the income and solidarity tax by themselves. The prize money will be paid after drop out between 10.00am and 6.00pm at the organising office.

Hotels/

Hospitality:           1. Official Hospitality Package

For all players, coaches, doctors, officials and accompanying guests using the Official Hospitality Package the charge is (to be paid cash and only in Euro)

                                               Euro 105-    - per day and person in shared accommodation and

                                               Euro 130,-    - per day in a single room (limited number)

                            The Official Hospitality Package includes:

·         Accommodation in a 3***+ hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner

·         Free shuttle transport between hotel and playing hall

·         Free transportation from Airport Leipzig/Halle or Magdeburg railway station to/from the hotel

·         Entry fee

·         Official GERMAN OPEN - leisure bag

·         Free entrance to the players night

·         GERMAN OPEN - program

Additional

information:  - The shuttle service is going one time per hour.

                        - The number of single rooms is very limited.

- The Check-Out-Time is 11.00am in the morning. If the rooms will     

  be left later an extra day has to be charged.

- Lunch and dinner will be served in a restaurant 300 m away from

  the playing hall.

- Lunch for the Under 21 Tournament on Saturday will be served in

  the Under 21 playing hall.

- Check-In for individual delegation members is not possible before payment is done.

- Payment by bank transfer is possible. You will receive an invoice after sending your final entry.

                            Cancellation

                            fee:                   - For cancellations (after September, 16^th) participants and

                                                      delegation members will be charged Euro 50,- per person and day.

                            2. 2**-Accommodation

                            Please note that we are not able to offer a 2**- accommodation package. If you want to book a 2**- hotel we are ready to help you if you give us your request with the preliminary entry form not later than 23^rd August 2002. In this case the entry fee of Euro 100,- per delegation member (players, coaches, doctors, officials, accompanying guests) has to be paid at arrival or by bank transfer.

                            This offer is only valid until September 16^th 2002.

                            3. Entry fee for delegation members

                            Players, coaches, doctors, officials and accompanying guests not using the Official Hospitality Package or the 2**-accommodation may arrange accommodation and transportation by themselves but have to pay the entry fee of Euro 100,- per delegation member at arrival.

Travel by air:       Teams are recommended to fly to Leipzig Airport, which is linked to most airports

                            in Germany.

                            Free transportation will be arranged from Leipzig Airport to the hotels and return.

                            The shuttle bus service can only be provided, if you send back your ‘travelling details’ till September, 16^th 2002.

Travel by train:    Magdeburg Railway Station is linked with most other bigger German cities. The Railway Station is situated 5km away from the venue.

                            Please tell us your way of travelling to Magdeburg by filling in the form‘ travelling details’.

Deadline for Entries:

                            Deadline for return of the preliminary entry form:            23^rd August 2002.

                            Deadline for return of the final entry form:                      16^th September 2002.

                            Deadline for return of the travelling details:                    16^th September 2002.

                            Please note that no entry will be accepted after the deadline 16^th September 2002      

                            Please send your entries to:             Deutscher Tischtennis-Bund

                                                                                   Otto-Fleck-Schneise 12

                                                                                  D-60528 Frankfurt/M. (GER)

                                                                                  Phone:  +49 - 69 - 69 50 19-19

                                                                                  Fax:     +49 - 69 - 69 50 19-13

                                                                                  e-mail: ebel.dttb@tischtennis.de

Draw:                   Qualifying Competition:                     Wednesday, 16^th October 2002, 07.00pm.

                            Men’s/Women’s Singles/Doubles

                            Draw of the seeded players and

                            Under 21 Men’s/Women’s Singles:    Thursday 17^th October 2002, 11.00am.

                            Men’s/Women’s Singles/Doubles:     Immediately after the completion of the                                                              Qualifying Rounds.

Accreditation:      Will be made on Wednesday, 16^th October 2002 between 09.00am and 10.30pm in the Bördelandhalle Magdeburg.

Matthias Vatheuer

Pro Tour Director