Dubai last stop on road to Rio for Chinas table tennis stars

Dubai will be the last stop on the road to Rio for the Chinese National Table Tennis Team after it was announced yesterday that the United Arab Emirates will host the ATTU Asian Cup less than 100 days before the 2016 Olympics get under way.
We are delighted to confirm that the 2016 Asian Cup will be staged in the UAE, said Tony Yue, Secretary General of the Asian Table Tennis Union. As a sponsor of the Chinese team and host of several major table tennis events in recent years, there is a growing passion for our sport in Dubai and we look forward to taking our tournament to a city renowned for staging world-class sporting events.
It is a great honour to be awarded the rights to stage this prestigious event, said Dawoud Al Hajri, President of UAE Table Tennis Association. It is particularly exciting to be welcoming the worlds best players, at the peak of their powers as they hone their game ahead of the Olympics, and I am sure sports fans in the UAE will turn out in force to cheer them on.

The announcement was made at Dubai Week in China during an evening at the Orange, Taikoo Li Sanlitun South, in celebration of Dubai and Chinas shared passion for sport, which featured the Chinese National Table Tennis Team performing in an exhibition match.

Zhang Jike, 2012 Olympic champion, Fan Zhendong, world No 4, as well as Li Xiaoxia, 2012 Olympic womens champion, and Wu Yang, the world No 7, entertained more than 200 guests, from government officials to sports industry stakeholders and prize winners, showcasing their skills with a series of trick shots, while they also shared tips with aspiring young players and posed for pictures.

Guests also had the opportunity to learn more about Dubais growing significance as a world-class destination for sport with state-of-the-art facilities at the event, which got under way with an opening address from His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council.

Dubai has been an official sponsor of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team since 2013 and the sponsorship not only demonstrates Dubais continued commitment to China, but is also an example of our passion for sport, said His Excellency Saeed Hareb. Sport is a strategic priority for Dubai as a global city of 200 nationalities that recognises the power of sport in uniting cultures. Our existing annual calendar of events - from badmintons Dubai World Superseries Finals, golfs DP World Tour Championship and Omega Dubai Desert Classic and cyclings Dubai Tour, to name just a few - is testament to the ability of Dubai to welcome and host the world.

With numerous other sports catered for, such as tennis and aquatics, the number of Chinese athletes coming to Dubai is growing every year, and many are making their mark, with Feng Shanshan, Qiu Bo and Chen Long among those to enjoy success. And with the UAE recently confirmed as host of the 2019 Asian Cup - the regions largest and most prestigious tournament we look forward to welcoming Chinas footballers. Clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Arsenal often make use of our world-class facilities, strategic location and fantastic weather by staging training camps and I would like to invite your national teams and clubs, from every sport, to also visit.

The Chinese National Table Tennis Team have visited the emirate twice in recent years, competing in the 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals and the 2014 ITTF World Team Cup.

We always enjoy playing in Dubai. The atmosphere is great - there are over 200,000 Chinese living in Dubai and they really get behind the team, said Yan Sen, Coach of the womens Chinese National Table Tennis Team. We have also had the opportunity to tour the city and learn more about the local culture and history. It was very interesting to visit the old markets, while riding camels in the desert was a real highlight for the players. They also love getting involved with the Ping Pong Dubai initiative. The CTTA is committed to growing table tennis in other countries and it is amazing to see how the programme has engaged with the community and introduced thousands of new players to the sport.

Dubai Week in China a Falcon and Associates initiative in cooperation with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and in partnership with Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) of Dubai; Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); Dubai Expo 2020; Emirates Airline; Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza); Jumeirah Group; and Dubais Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) runs until 15th May 2015.

The venue has been transformed into an interactive experience, bringing to life Dubais remarkable story by providing visitors the opportunity to see, touch and taste the emirate and discover sides of the city that they perhaps were not aware of, such as the warmth of Arabic hospitality or its rich culture and Bedouin heritage. Visitors are taken through its incredible journey from a humble fishing village into a global city of opportunity, while they also have the chance to learn more about the pioneering spirit and visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

To learn more about Dubai Week in China, visit Vision.