The 2015 World Table Tennis Championship Gets Underway at the Suzhou International Expo Center

SUZHOU, China, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2015 World Table Tennis Championship is being held in Suzhou, China, from April 26 to May 3, 2015.

During the 8-day event, over 500 players from 134 countries and territories, including heavyweights such as Zhang Jike, Xu Xin, Ma Long, and Timo Boll, will compete for five championships at the Suzhou International Expo Center, one of the largest and most versatile modern venues in China.

Commenting on the versatility of the venue, Cai Zhenhua, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said; "Unlike the venues for previous championships, the Suzhou International Expo Center is not a traditional ‎gymnasium but rather a multipurpose complex. It is among the world's best venues for the World Table Tennis Championship and even for the Olympic Games."

As an international event, the World Table Tennis Championship has demanding requirements for its venue, including the need for a vast amount of space, the ability to handle a wide variety of requirements and the sectioning off of the venue into separate smaller spaces so that several events can take place at once.

In addition to dedicated courts available for matches, the space needs to include conference rooms for the meetings of the Executive Committee of the International Table Tennis Federation and for press conferences, as well as a wide array of functional areas, including the dining area, the office area for the Organizing Committee, referees' meeting rooms, and the media service area. With its column-free, long-span, over 100-meter ultra-high space, the Suzhou International Expo Center offers a one-stop high-quality venue tailor-made to the requirements of the World Table Tennis Championship for function zoning.

Furthermore to its ability to quickly re-allocate and resize space for different events, the Suzhou International Expo Center boasts a diversified range of allocable resources for various kinds of performance events, for advertising and for travel accommodation, as well as a convenient, superior environment and quality professional services.

"Since opening in 2004, we have hosted more than 1,000 exhibitions and conferences," said Yin Weidong, Chairman of Suzhou Culture & Expo Center Co., Ltd. "Currently, the Suzhou International Expo Center is China's only exhibition venue which is an official member of all four major organizations in the international conference and exhibition industry -- the Union of International Fairs (UFI), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)."

The greatest advantage of the Suzhou International Expo Center is the characteristics that embody the refined culture of the city of Suzhou. Initially built in 514 B.C., Suzhou has a history spanning more than 2,500 years and is one of the 24 National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities in China. As the seat of Wu culture, the city has a strong historical heritage exemplified by its humanitarian traditions. Both the classical and delicate garden buildings and the Suzhou Pingtan tradition of storytelling and ballad singing continue to fascinate and enchant locals and visitors alike.

The Suzhou International Expo Center is located alongside Jinji Lake in Suzhou. It is a place where elegant art can be seen and enjoyed as well as a place for shopping and refined dining. Visitors can enjoy the many table tennis matches that will take place within the venue in addition to experiencing the wonderful flavor of Suzhou in the many shopping streets that lie in the immediate vicinity of the expo center.