Nandan Naresh, Charlotte, WV Pan Am promo.

(Colorado Springs, CO – November 22, 2022) – USA Table Tennis (“USATT”), the US National Governing Body for the sport of table tennis, today announced that the International Table Tennis Federation (“ITTF”) has awarded USATT the right to host the 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Championships. The prestigious international table tennis tournament for participants in the U-15 and U-19 age groups will be held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia, from July 23 through July 30, 2023.

“We’re honored and excited to have been chosen to host the 2023 Pan Am Championships,” said USATT Chief Executive Officer Virginia Sung. “This is obviously a prestigious event for up-and-coming table tennis athletes competing in the Americas, and we would expect the best players in this portion of the world in the U-15 and U-19 age groups to compete in the tournament. We’re thrilled to bring this event to the heartland of the United States at the beautiful Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in West Virginia. We have already received tremendous support from the Charleston community, and we look forward to having this opportunity to showcase these great young athletes in this state-of-the-art facility.”

Located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in the capitol city of West Virginia, the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center serves as the entertainment and convention centerpiece for the region. The Coliseum and Convention Center campus includes a 13,500 seat Coliseum and newly renovated exhibit space totaling over 100,000 square feet, as well as a Municipal Auditorium and a 738-seat Theater. This showcase facility has served as a host for concerts, family shows, sporting events, conventions, corporate events, exhibitions, and a number of other activities.

“Sports tourism is big business in our State and our Capital City – supporting jobs and being a driving force in our economy,” said Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “We look forward to welcoming participants – from North and South America – and their families to Charleston for the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation Pan American Youth Championships.”

Steeped in history, Charleston, West Virginia, is known for a wide variety of cultural and recreational attractions and activities. The State Capitol building, which has a 23-karat gold dome, is considered an American architectural treasure. With a number of beautiful parks and outdoor attractions in the downtown vicinity, Charleston offers a unique taste of middle American for visitors from all regions of the Americas, including those from other areas of the United States. West Virginia International Yeager Airport, which is located just three miles from downtown Charleston, offers a direct and connecting flights from major airports and hub cities throughout the United States and other areas of the world.

Charleston CVB President/CEO Tim Brady said, “We are grateful to USA Table Tennis for choosing Charleston to host this international event. When USATT officials visited Charleston, they were greeted by friendly people everywhere they went. Ours is a welcoming and hospitable community. When you combine that with a state-of-the-art facility, drivability, convenient air service and great hotels, you have a very desirable destination. This is just the beginning of developing relationships with Team USA Olympic sports.”

The Charleston CVB partners with Airstream Ventures to raise the CVB's profile with events rights holders and governing bodies in competitive sports. In just over four years, Airstream has led 95 events, 20 of which have been televised nationally.

"Seeing the 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Table Tennis Championships be awarded to Charleston is such a testament to the entire city and their leadership," said Alan Verlander, CEO of Airstream Ventures. "We are so thankful to be partners and are grateful to Virginia and her entire team at USA Table Tennis for their selection as the destination. This event will have a huge impact on the community, but also shows what teamwork can do. We look forward to showing off Charleston to the entire sport of table tennis and using it to show off how Charleston is at the forefront of sports tourism thanks to Mayor Goodwin and the entire Charleston team."

OVG360’s Patrick Leahy, General Manager of the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center said, “We are looking forward to hosting the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation Pan American Youth Championships at the Charleston Coliseum. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase our event facilities, the incredible local hospitality in Charleston, WV. We look forward to working with the Charleston CVB and the USA Table Tennis Organization to educate our local youth on the sport of Table Tennis.”

The Pan American Youth Table Tennis Championships is an annual tournament that brings together the best young table tennis players from North and South America to compete for medals in seven events, including team competitions by country, as well as boys’ and girls’ singles – and boys’, girls’ and mixed doubles events.

End.22 11-22a

USATT Awarded 2023 ITTF Pan American Youth Table Tennis Championships

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