The WTT Singapore Grand Slam came to a successful conclusion. WTT World Table Tennis Federation shared several photos on its official website.
The final day of the Singapore Grand Slam played the men's and women's singles finals. Liu Guoliang, President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, Chairman of the Board of Directors of WTT World Table Tennis Federation, and First Vice President of the ITTF, came to Singapore to watch the wonderful competition.
Liu Guoliang sat in the stands with IOC Vice President Huang Simian, ITTF President Petra Solin, and ITTF Group CEO Steve Denton while watching the game while discussing the current situation and development direction of table tennis in the world.
While watching the wonderful game, several bigwigs still did not forget to think about the development of table tennis.
For several sports bigwigs, it is the most normal thing to watch the game on the spot and then analyze the development direction of table tennis. After netizens saw these photos, they talked about it. However, the point of discussion is not how the big guys watch the game, but other things.
Some netizens asked suspiciously: "The footage we saw, isn't it when the athletes are playing games, they are drinking?" ”
Some netizens said unceremoniously: "Drinking depends on the occasion." This is a playing field, not a bar. ”
"The games on the field are fierce, you drink here, and the blood of competitive sports is contaminated by you."
"Athletes don't cheer them up."
Some netizens also suggested: "Let's discuss how to manage the flash." "During table tennis, some spectators are rude and use flashes to interfere with the players' play. It's something that disgusts both the players and the fans. However, this kind of egregious behavior has been seen in many events and has always been condemned.
Therefore, netizens suggested to the table tennis bosses: "First manage the order of the arena." ”
Liu Guoliang, as the chairman of the Table Tennis Association, as well as the chairman of the board of directors of the WTT World Table Tennis Federation and the first vice president of the ITTF, is also the target of criticism.
What's going on? Looking back at the two finals, Liu Guoliang and ITTF President Petra Solin and ITTF Group CEO Steve Denton went to the scene to watch the competition and served as award presenters.
During the game, the camera cut to these big guys. They did clink glasses and drink at the time.
The fans felt that this behavior was very inappropriate. The players fought the pitch and sweated. They were drinking in the stands, especially these special statuses and felt disrespectful to the players.
As some netizens said: "Athletes are not here to cheer them up." ”
So did they do this appropriately?
While many people criticize, many people disagree.
Some people think that drinking champagne is nothing, everyone is rational. I have to put on a face, the spirit of all the staff is tense, and they dare not laugh if they win the championship, and it is not good. To do happy ping-pong.
One person has a point: commercial sports are essentially entertainment. Not to mention drinking champagne, even eating popcorn and potato chips on the sidelines, as long as it does not hinder the athletes. If you set a lot of boxes for commercial sports, it will only become a stumbling block to the commercialization of table tennis.
This is not uncommon in the international arena. Take a look at the stands of a football match. Drinkers, snacks, abound.
During the World Cup, aren't many people just watching games in pubs? They drank beer, skewered, and watched a football game. Then cheer for your favorite team together. That's called a cool!
Some people think: wine and football are inseparable.
Look at Kahn and a few guests sitting in the stands, watching the game while blowing bottles and drinking. There is no sense of discord at all. Why can't several bigwigs of the ITTF drink some wine in the stands.
Others saw it more clearly, pointing out that the wine belonged to the investor. It was also pointed out that when WTT Singapore Grand Slam tickets were sold before, champagne and autographs were written in the ticket price. Maybe that's an entertainment environment.
That's easy to understand. Liu Guoliang and several other table tennis bigwigs drank alcohol while watching the game, but they were just promoting wine. And they didn't have much good wine, and they didn't drink it freely, so they tasted it and promoted it. There's nothing wrong with that.
When Liu Guoliang was the chairman of the board of directors of the WTT World Table Tennis Federation, he expressed a wish to make table tennis the world's most popular top sport.
To achieve this goal, we must find ways to commercialize table tennis competitions, let more people participate in table tennis, and expand the influence of table tennis.
Judging from the current situation, the ITTF is doing well. Liu Guoliang has made WTT events popular and more influential.
Now that there are many WTT events, there are many events and generous prize money, and athletes are naturally willing to participate. In the future, more and more people will learn to play table tennis, and more and more people will play table tennis in other states. Like Hugo in Brazil, Diaz in Puerto Rico, and Aruna in Africa, they are all highly skilled table tennis players. Their success will also lead the locals to learn to play table tennis. That's all a good thing.
Let's look at this WTT Singapore Grand Slam, with gorgeous choreography, attractive arena, and exciting matches, suspenseful upset. The players like to play in this kind of scene, and Ma Long, Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu and others praised the organizers in interviews. The arena was set up too well. I want to compete here in the future.
This shows that the organizers' efforts have been recognized by the players. Fans also enjoy watching such games and immerse themselves in this tense, exciting and interesting atmosphere.
I have to say that Liu Guoliang's wish has come true a lot. Their reform is in the right direction. And why should we nitpick and criticize for a little thing? What's more, if they do that, it may also be a request of the sponsor. Only by taking more sponsorships, serving sponsors well, and letting sponsors give more money can they better run table tennis competitions and let more people join the sport of table tennis. That would fulfill Liu Guoliang's wish to make table tennis a popular sport in the world.