Table Tennis North has launched a brand new series designed to open up the sport to everyone.

And they plan to visit every region in the NWT to prove that point.

Table Tennis 4 All is the name of the new initiative, a series of six events that are designed to give anyone who wants to play a chance to do so.

Thorsten Gohl, Table Tennis NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, said the idea is to have whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as table tennis festivals in each region, and some extra funding gave the organization a chance to add something new.

SA国际影视传媒淪port Canada released funding for the Community Sport for All initiative to Table Tennis Canada and that opened us the opportunity for us to host the events,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淧erfect timing for our communities to include tournaments at the end of our visits, (but) a short turn around on the events.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to federal funding, Gohl said the GNWT has provided funding for the festivals themselves along with assistance from both the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT and the Mackenzie Recreation Association.

One of the funding provisions from Sport Canada was that every event be free of charge for anyone who wants to enter and Gohl said that will be the case in every community they visit.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese events are meant to bring anyone to the sport,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he (festivals) are there to support building capacity in the communities. We want to give opportunities and possibilities for youth to become the best version of themselves. That is really the key in everything we do.SA国际影视传媒�

The format for each tournament is singles only and the goal is to give everyone as many matches as possible. Each match will be a best-of-five sets and if there are enough players, there will be a group stage to begin, followed by a double-elimination playoff round.

SA国际影视传媒淎gain, it depends on how much time and how many participants we have,SA国际影视传媒� said Gohl.

The first tournament was held in Fort Providence this past weekend with more than 50 people taking part in both the festival and tournament at the Territorial Table Tennis Training Centre. The results from the tournament, which had 26 entrants, saw Nelson Vandell come out as the winner as he beat Carter Sadowick, who represented the NWT at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Alberta.

When it comes to the South Slave, Gohl said heSA国际影视传媒檚 looking at having an event in Hay River on March 30, the Easter weekend, and another in Fort Smith.

What Gohl wants to do is partner with other territorial sport organizations and have multi-sport festivals in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淲e will try with badminton in Behchoko and (weSA国际影视传媒檝e done) hockey in Norman Wells already this year,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The second event is happening this Saturday in Yellowknife.