20 Sep 2017

The inaugural World Veteran Championships was staged in the Swedish city of Gothenburg in 1982; it attracted some 400 entries.

Later a committee was formed which included members of the Gothenburg organising committee and in conjunction with the Swaythling Club International, it was agreed to host the event every two years.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Recently, now 35 years after the landmark tournament, four members of the original event met in the Swedish city.

Kalle Lindfors, Ingemar Adelin and Hans Westling, all members of the Swaythling Club International, alongside Roland Andreasson met and enjoyed a most convivial occasion; they enjoyed lunch at the Gothenburg Opera House.

Documents from the 1982 World Veteran Championships and other such items plus photos of years now resigned to history, made the gathering a most pleasant and nostalgic occasion.

Now the tournament is firmly established on the international calendar. The forthcoming edition will be next year in Las Vegas when organisers anticipate not 400 players as in the first event but in excess of 4,000; such has the tournament grown.

Swaythling Club Hans Westling Roland Andreasson Kalle Lindfors Ingemar Adelin