Featuring teams from 24 countries, the 2008 World Paddle Tennis Championships (WPTC) began Sunday afternoon at the Calgary West Soccer Centre.
During the opening ceremonies, tournament chair and Paddle Association of Canada chair Bill Stamile thanked both the players for coming and the many sponsors, volunteers and organizers who helped make the bi-yearly event possible.
A relatively new sport in North America, paddle tennis is something of a combination of tennis and squash, being played with a tennis ball and using tennis rules but inside a glass court and always in a doubles format.
Paddle tennis is also played with a smaller composite paddle that’s perforated to reduce resistance rather than a traditional stringed tennis racket. The court features the same lines as a tennis court, but the lines are only used during the serve.
The sport is highly popular throughout several areas in Latin America and Europe.
Paddle Tennis, known as padél in South and Latin America and Platform Tennis in other areas, features an Athletes’ Oath that emphasizes values such as “aggressive without antagonism” and “always gracious, win or lose, it’s team against sport.”
Lindsay Blackett, Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Community Spirit attended the Opening Ceremonies on behalf of Albertan Premier Ed Stelmach and wished the players and cultures attending the WPCT good luck and an enjoyable stay in Calgary.
During the opening ceremonies, tournament chair and Paddle Association of Canada chair Bill Stamile thanked both the players for coming and the many sponsors, volunteers and organizers who helped make the bi-yearly event possible.
A relatively new sport in North America, paddle tennis is something of a combination of tennis and squash, being played with a tennis ball and using tennis rules but inside a glass court and always in a doubles format.
Paddle tennis is also played with a smaller composite paddle that’s perforated to reduce resistance rather than a traditional stringed tennis racket. The court features the same lines as a tennis court, but the lines are only used during the serve.
The sport is highly popular throughout several areas in Latin America and Europe.
Paddle Tennis, known as padél in South and Latin America and Platform Tennis in other areas, features an Athletes’ Oath that emphasizes values such as “aggressive without antagonism” and “always gracious, win or lose, it’s team against sport.”
Lindsay Blackett, Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Community Spirit attended the Opening Ceremonies on behalf of Albertan Premier Ed Stelmach and wished the players and cultures attending the WPCT good luck and an enjoyable stay in Calgary.
