Sheffield | Event guide
66th English Open International Table Tennis
Past sporting listing | 26-30 January
Type
Event note
City
Sheffield
Venue reference
English Institute of Sport - Sheffield
Event background
A Sheffield sporting event note for the 66th English Open International Table Tennis competition at the English Institute of Sport, promoted as a chance to see leading international players ahead of the London 2012 cycle.
Current status
This is a past sporting event note. It is not intended to function as a live ticketing or event-status page.
Context
The event was scheduled for 26-30 January at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, a venue strongly associated with indoor performance sport and athlete development.
Event Director Mike Holt described the pricing approach as a way to help youngsters and families see top players in action, arguing that elite competition could be one of the best ways to attract new people into table tennis.
UK Sport's involvement placed the championships within a broader pre-Games events programme, designed to bring world-class competition to the UK and give athletes, volunteers, and officials valuable preparation before 2012.
Sheffield City Council also presented the event as part of the city's wider sporting identity, highlighting the opportunity for local audiences to see the world's top table tennis players close to home.
For readers looking back at the listing, the key story is not just the tournament itself but the way Sheffield, UK Sport, and Yorkshire event partners used international sport to build momentum ahead of the Olympic period.