2002 USA Table Tennis National Team Trials

Robo-Pong the Table Tennis
Robot @ Newgy.com

October 7, 2001
Contact: USA Table Tennis
719-578-4583 usatt@usatt.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2002 USA Table Tennis
National Team Trials

Shown below please find the pertinent information and entry form for participation in the trials for the 2002 USA Table Tennis National Team.

Date and Time
Tuesday evening, December 18, 6:00 p.m., through

Wednesday, December 19

Location Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall C3, Las Vegas, Nevada

Competition Format 1) All matches will the best of 7 games to 11.
2) The top 16 rated men who enter the trials will be placed in four 4-person round robins. Two persons from each round robin will advance into an 8-person round robin, with carry-overs (each player will play the same person only once).

3) The top 10 rated women who enter the trials will be placed in two 5-person round robins. Three persons from each round robin will advance into a 6-person round robin, with carry-overs (each player will play the same person only once).

4) The top four finishers of each gender will be offered positions on the 2002 USA Table Tennis National Team.
5) Any competitor who defaults a match will be presumed to be disqualified from the tournament, pending an appeal to the Elite Athlete Committee. In the event of a default, no matches with the player who has defaulted (either played or not played) will be counted toward the final standings.

Equipment Butterfly tables, Nittaku orange balls

Eligibility In order to be eligible to participate in the 2002 USA Table Tennis National Team Trials, an athlete must:

Be a U.S. citizen, with the exception of those who were nominated to compete for the U.S. in international championships prior to August 31, 1997. There is some very technical fine print which accompanies this basic rule. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact Margaret Smith or Dennis Taylor for clarification.

Have on file at USA Table Tennis headquarters or submit with the entry form verification of eligibility (copy of photo page of U.S. passport, copy of U.S. birth certificate, etc.).

Be an current member of USA Table Tennis

Entry Process A completed entry form (including proof of eligibility and $100 entry fee) must be received at USA Table Tennis headquarters no later than Thursday, November 1, 2001.
Entry forms submitted without eligibility verification and $100 entry fee will be REJECTED.

Additionally, applicants selected to compete in the Trials must sign a 2002 Athlete Contract prior to the beginning of the competition.

The $100 entry fee will be refunded as follows:

To those who are not selected for participation in the trials.

To those who are eligible for and participate in the trials.

Refunds will be given via check issued from USA Table Tennis headquarters.
Invitations will be extended to the 16 men and 10 women applicants with the highest ratings as of November 16, 2001.

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2002 USA Table Tennis National Team Trials

Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall C3

December 18-19, 2001

All entries must be received at USATT Headquarters

no later than November 1, 2001

E N T R Y F O R M

USATT No.		Expiration
Name
Street Address
City/State/Zip
Telephone
E-Mail Address
Date of Birth
U.S. Citizen?	_____ Yes _____ No
*If paying by Visa or MasterCard, please complete the following information:*
Name of Cardholder
Card No.
Exp Date
Signature

ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT FULL PAYMENT AND ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

I will abide by all USATT regulations for tournament play. I understand that the following MUST accompany the above-completed entry form:

A signed Release & Waiver of Liability form (below)
Entry fee of $100
Verification of eligibility

Signature of Participant
Parent's Signature (if minor)

Send completed entry form, Release & Waiver of Liability, entry fee, and verification of eligibility to arrive no later than November 1, 2001 to:

USA Table Tennis

Attention Margaret Smith

One Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

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USA Table Tennis

Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

("Agreement")

1. IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to participate in any way in USA Table Tennis sanctioned events, I and/or my minor child, our personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin:

2. ACKNOWLEDGE, agree, and represent that I and/or my minor understand the nature of Table Tennis Activities and that I and/or my minor child are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such Activity. I further agree that if at any time I believe conditions or equipment to be unsafe, I and/or my minor child will immediately discontinue further participation in the Activity.

3. FULLY UNDERSTAND that (a) TABLE TENNIS ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS AND DEATH ("RISKS"); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by me and/or my child's own actions, or inactions, or the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" NAMED BELOW; (c) there may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I FULLY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES, COSTS, AND DAMAGES I and/or my minor child incur as a result of my participation in the Activity.

4. HEREBY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, AND ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOSSES, COSTS, AND/OR DAMAGES FOLLOWING SUCH INJURY, DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, OR DEATH, EVEN IF CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" NAMED BELOW;

5. HEREBY RELEASE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE USA TABLE TENNIS, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, officials, volunteers, and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the "RELEASEES" herein) FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES ON MY ACCOUNT CAUSED OR ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS; AND I FURTHER AGREE that if, despite this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT I and/or my minor child, or anyone on my and/or my minor child's behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE, AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH OF THE RELEASEES from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which may incur as the result of such claim.

6. I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE OF ANY NATURE AND INTEND IT TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW AND AGREE THAT IF ANY PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HELD TO BE INVALID THE BALANCE, NOTWITHSTANDING, SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

___________________________________ _____________________________________

Signature of Participant Signature of Parent/Legal Guardian

(only if age 18 or over) (if participant is under age 18)

___________________________________ _____________________________________

Printed Name of Participant Printed Name of Parent/Legal Guardian

(if participant is under age 18)

Date: _______________________________

USA Table Tennis - Serving the Table Tennis Community

Date and Time	Tuesday evening, December 18, 6:00 p.m., through Wednesday, December 19
Location	Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall C3, Las Vegas, Nevada
Competition Format	1) All matches will the best of 7 games to 11. 2) The top 16 rated men who enter the trials will be placed in four 4-person round robins. Two persons from each round robin will advance into an 8-person round robin, with carry-overs (each player will play the same person only once). 3) The top 10 rated women who enter the trials will be placed in two 5-person round robins. Three persons from each round robin will advance into a 6-person round robin, with carry-overs (each player will play the same person only once). 4) The top four finishers of each gender will be offered positions on the 2002 USA Table Tennis National Team. 5) Any competitor who defaults a match will be presumed to be disqualified from the tournament, pending an appeal to the Elite Athlete Committee. In the event of a default, no matches with the player who has defaulted (either played or not played) will be counted toward the final standings.
Equipment	Butterfly tables, Nittaku orange balls
Eligibility	In order to be eligible to participate in the 2002 USA Table Tennis National Team Trials, an athlete must: Be a U.S. citizen, with the exception of those who were nominated to compete for the U.S. in international championships prior to August 31, 1997. There is some very technical fine print which accompanies this basic rule. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact Margaret Smith or Dennis Taylor for clarification. Have on file at USA Table Tennis headquarters or submit with the entry form verification of eligibility (copy of photo page of U.S. passport, copy of U.S. birth certificate, etc.). Be an current member of USA Table Tennis
Entry Process	A completed entry form (including proof of eligibility and $100 entry fee) must be received at USA Table Tennis headquarters *no later than Thursday, November 1, 2001. Entry forms submitted without eligibility verification and $100 entry fee will be REJECTED.* Additionally, applicants selected to compete in the Trials must sign a 2002 Athlete Contract prior to the beginning of the competition. The $100 entry fee will be refunded as follows: To those who are not selected for participation in the trials. To those who are eligible for and participate in the trials. Refunds will be given via check issued from USA Table Tennis headquarters. Invitations will be extended to the 16 men and 10 women applicants with the highest ratings as of November 16, 2001.