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Marius Widmer, ITTF Media Coordinator English Open Experience by a Table Tennis “Greenhorn” Reporter Photo by: ITTF Tom Degun is a reporter with insidethegames.biz and was assigned by his employer to cover the 2009 English Open in Sheffield. In his article “I am now a table tennis convert”, the slightly prejudiced journalist describes his way from entering shyly a new territory until getting fascinated by the speed, the spin, the atmosphere and the event organisation. The Pro Tour comeback on English soil was a highlight for the players, the fans and the whole sport. BBC’s Viewpoint The echoes from several media in the country where table tennis derives from were very positive. Any doubts that the Olympic Games in 2012 on English soil would not be showcased in an excellent manner disappear in regard to the successful English Open in Sheffield. A BBC reporter commented: "British table tennis is in a better state than it has been for years (at elite and grass-roots level) and should be looking forward to the opportunity of showcasing itself at London 2012, unfortunately that opportunity might not be as great as it should be because there isn't enough money to go around and sports like table tennis (deemed unlikely to medal) are being squeezed - this, in my view, would be a terrible shame and make a mockery of our stated aims to use 2012 to create a lasting sporting legacy for the entire country". Tom Degun’s Surprising Work Day “For a moment, I was convinced that I had entered a world heavyweight boxing contest and was half expecting to see Mike Tyson emerge from the player’s tunnel so caught up was I in the moment”, Tom Degun wrote on insidethegames.biz. “As a big tennis fan, I thought table tennis would prove a miniature version of my beloved hobby just with a little less skill, less speed, less emphasis on technique and less athleticism. Watching the sport in the first person proved to me almost the exact opposite. The speed in which the players were hitting the ball was frightening.” And Degun went even further: “[ … ] the hand-eye coordination I saw from the table tennis players was superior to that I had ever seen before from any athlete in any sport. [ … ] It was so tactical, so quick, so delicate and yet so athletic that I shall now renounce anyone that can watch the sport at this level and call it ‘boring’.” Huge Admiration for “Muscular Specimens” The journalist was also surprised by the physiques of the elite players. “These guys are fit, muscular specimens and if any of the guys took their tops off, I assure you that you would not want your girlfriend in close proximity.” Degun's résumé after covering one day the ITTF Pro Tour: “I left the 65th English Open Table Tennis Championships feeling a huge admiration for a sport as worthy of praise as any other. I think I am now hooked on the sport and have already made room in the garage for what I hope will be a rectangular shaped Christmas present and I hope to soon play non-stop with anyone who fancies a game.” Read the whole article on insidethegames.biz. Archive Date Title 10/5/2009 itTV Live on the Air from the Volkswagen Women's World Cup 3/24/2009 S.C.I. 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