EBL Press Conference

At the Press Conference on Friday, June 28th EBL President Gianarrigo Rona explained some interesting points on the format of the European Championships. In the even years the European Championships will be held as usual. At the moment there is no need to divide the Championship into two divisions. However, when the number of participating countries exceed 40 there is a good case for an A and a B championship. There is a practical reason for that: with more that 40 teams you run out of playing days.

In the odd years the format of the European Championships will be changed. To start with Menton 2003 the EC will be a truly open event, open in the sense that everybody from any zone can play in the event. In other words it might be well possible that for example a team consisting of South-American and Australian players, would become the next European Open Champion. That way, the EC can be well compared with a Grand Slam Tennis tournament like Wimbledon, where a player from any country can become the Open British Champion.

The EBL President further confirmed that at the moment in the open and women's contest the top five will qualify for next year's world championships and the top two from the senior event. The EBL however has the right to delegate the numbers six from the open and the women events when the total of participating countries from the other zones turn out to be an odd number.

Mr. Rona further stated that the results from the drug tests, which had been held last Wednesday, will be known within two or three weeks. He further confirmed that the financial agreement with Spain, following last year's EC at Tenerife, is on schedule and will be completed by the end of the year.