STIGA: Official Equipment Supplier for the 2002-2004 North American Tour

Mitchell Rothfleisch, President of Table Tennis Pioneers (TTP) and Richard Lee, President of North American Table Tennis (NATT) announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement for sponsorship of the North American Table Tennis Tour and the North American Teams Table Tennis Championships. The agreement covers the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 and includes equipment and cash.

The agreement has the full support of all three STIGA partners in North America; Sweden Table Tennis (Owner of the STIGA Table Tennis Brand), Escalade Sports (North American Distributor of STIGA recreational products) and The Table Tennis Pioneers (North American Distributor of STIGA professional products). STIGA tables and balls will be the official equipment of both the Tour and the Teams for the duration of the agreement. All STIGA equipment used will be of the finest quality as well as ITTF approved.

Under the terms of the agreement, NATT has agreed to organize, stage and perform a minimum of five Four-Star tournaments annually at locations throughout the United States and Canada which will collectively be known as the 'STIGA North American Table Tennis Tour'. The North American Teams Championship is included in the agreement and will be known as the STIGA North American Teams Table Tennis Championships.

"I'm quite pleased with the amount of support and the enthusiasm of Table Tennis Pioneers for our projects," said Richard Lee. "Four years ago we were very uncertain that it would be possible to make the Tour a sustaining activity. With the help of all three STIGA partners, Table Tennis Pioneers, Sweden Table Tennis, and Escalade Sports, we are confident that both the Tour and Teams will experience continued growth."

Mitch Rothfleisch expressed his pleasure at the new agreement. "Last year proved to us that the NATT Tour was a viable way to increase our company's market share and to increase participation in the sport. NATT's professional approach to event management is good for Table Tennis and enhances the spectator appeal of tournaments. At TT Pioneers we set a high standard of performance within our company and we expect the same standard of excellence from our partners."

Mats Bandstigen, President of Sweden Table Tennis, was also very pleased to renew his commitment to the NATT and Table Tennis in America. "We believe that the future is very bright for U.S. Table Tennis, and projects like this are exactly the type that we want to support. Along with our sponsorship of the U.S. National Team, and the great work of our distributors, we believe this venture will further enhance STIGA's market share, and help to solidify STIGA as the number one brand in the U.S."

Escalade Sports was also enthusiastic to continue its support for the NATT and U.S. Table Tennis. Through its STIGA Club participation, athlete sponsorship, advertising, tournament play and quality products Escalade¨ Sports and STIGA¨ have developed a partnership to Play The Bestª. STIGA¨ is the unparalleled brand leader and the most recognized name in Table Tennis for innovative, quality products.

In 2001, more than 1700 USATT members participated in the STIGA Tour and Teams events. Tournaments were held in Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, California and Delaware. In addition to local media coverage, USA Today reported the Tournament results for the first time in 2001. Fan YiYong of Seattle, WA won the 2001 STIGA Tour Title and Chicago Killerspin swept to First Place at the 2001 STIGA Teams. More than $40,000 in prize money was awarded at the events in 2001. About.com and Senoda Inc. were supporting sponsors for the season.

In addition to the STIGA Tour and Teams, NATT operates the ACUI and National Collegiate Table Tennis Association Championships and the AAU Junior Olympics and USATT Junior National Championships, among other events. Using custom written tournament software, NATT has 'raised the bar' for on-time event scheduling and tournament operations.