Lausanne, Switzerland, Oct. 27 - The International Olympic committee voted today to replace Doubles at the Olympics with Teams. This was at the request of the International Table Tennis Federation. The change will take effect starting with the Beijing Games in 2008. The IOC is trying to limit the number of events and athletes at the Games, and would not have agreed to add Teams without removing Doubles.
One effect of this will be that a dominating country can no longer win more than one medal in Teams, as opposed to Doubles, since countries will be limited to one team each. In the five Olympics since table tennis was admitted, China has won at least two medals in doubles four times in Women's Doubles, and twice in Men's Doubles. (See complete listing of Olympic Champions.)
For further info on the changes made by the IOC, see their news release.
| |
| USA Table Tennis - Serving the Table Tennis Community |
| |