Change is the only constant in our lives and (para) sport is no exception. It is developing with unanticipated speed, not only in athlete’s achievements but also in terms of competitions and their organization. Slovenia is a sports powerhouse, known around the globe for its excellent organization of sport events – also (or even especially) thanks to Laško. It has been 21 years now since the first time we gathered the world’s elite para table tennis players in this town on the Savinja river. Even more, this year will see the already 20th I Feel Slovenia Open Thermana Laško. But this May will be different, while still very much marked by para sport in Laško, where two tournaments are to be hosted this year as a result of a restructuring of para table tennis after the 1^st of January 2025.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) now organizes events of three different levels – Future, Challenger and Elite – as part of its competition structure to enable players of different ranking levels to progress and win ranking points. The Future events are an entry point for young and less experienced players who are only just coming onto the international stage. These tournaments have less impact in terms of ranking points, but are an important kick-off opportunity for talents wishing to build up their careers. The Challenger tournaments are mid-level events for players who already have some international experience. The competition here is tougher and stronger, so they offer a chance to win more ranking points than the Future events. Elite are the top level of ITTF’s competitions, in which the world’s best players participate, the competition is extremely strong and accordingly the most ranking points can be won here. These three levels comprise a clearly structured system that allows athletes to advance depending on their abilities and results. We are happy for Laško to be part of it.

Proved we’re capable of something

“This is the longest-running tournament and the biggest of its kind in the world. That is quite a recognition but also a commitment and promise to keep it that way and take a step further in its organization as well. We have challenges ahead, but am confident that our organizing team can take them on,” says Damijan Lazar, head of the event’s organizing committee and president of the Sports Association for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee (NPC Slovenia) on the novelties introduced by ITTF. “A lot has changed in a very short period of time. First the graphic image, then the application system, according to which the list of participants can now change up to a month before the event, which makes it difficult to accurately book accommodation capacities. The deadlines are very short, too, which sets new challenges but also fires up the competition. We were also forced to put down some advance payments, but were ready for such an inconvenience as well thanks to all our vast experience,” Damijan Lazar gives a few examples of the changes and organizational nuggets the new tournament ranking poses. “But it is a very positive feature that things are now so clearly structured when it comes to events, everything is standardised, including the medals, which sets clear rules of the game. The only thing I would say is that I wish there hadn’t been quite so many changes or that they had been introduced more gradually,” Lazar adds.

Slovenia is the one setting trends in the organization of sport events. The global public was impressed by our execution of the European and world para table tennis championships in 2017 and 2018. In the most trying times for (para) sport, when the COVID-19 virus stopped everything, we were the first to properly host the first ever Paralympic qualification tournament in Laško in the spring of 2021. “We are looking forward to a new challenge(r)!” concluders Damijan Lazar, trusting that his team and personnel in Laško will do everything in their power for optimal results of all participants and guests. As is the custom in Laško.

Slovenia is a sporting powerhouse, known around the globe for tis excellent organization of sport events – also (or even especially) thanks to Laško. It has been 21 years now since the first time we gathered the world’s elite para table tennis players in this town on the Savinja river. Even more, this year will see the already 20^th I Feel Slovenia Open Thermana Laško. Numerous reasons to remember the past, but also a moment for new commitments, wishes, goals for even better and more exemplary organization, striving to provide optimal conditions for para athletes, while also using the media and modern platforms (detailed online streaming and application) with the aim of having the competitions reach broader audiences to make them realize on how high and professional levels is para table tennis is played. “The event in Laško has a rich tradition. We are proud of the story we write along with our partners year in year out. Such an event would not be happening without dedication, support, expertise, hard work and some sports luck. This is the longest-running tournament and the biggest of its kind in the world. That is quite a recognition but also a commitment and promise to keep it that way and take a step further in its organization as well. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who, in whichever way, contributed to us hosting the 20^th I Feel Slovenia Open Thermana Laško this year,” starts Damijan Lazar, president of the organizing committee and president of the Sports Federation for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee, the organizer of the event.

The first one in 2004.

It all started with Gorazd Vecko, the visionary Slovenia national para table tennis coach, who realized more than 20 years ago that Slovenia needs an international tournament if it was to stay competitive with the rest of the world. And whatever Gorazd sets out to do, he does on the highest level. The tournament in Laško is just another of such Gorazd stories. He found his first partner in the Paraplegics Society of Ljubljana, and alongside Gregor Gračner, para athlete and former captain of the Slovenian wheelchair basketball team who is now head of sports at Slovenian Paraplegics Association, Gorazd organized the first international tournament in Laško. The first Slovenia Open took place between April 28^th and May 2^nd 2004 and hosted 176 players from 21 countries. France came out the most decorated with 25 medals: 10 golds, 11 silvers and 4 bronzes. Andreja Dolinar won two golds for Slovenia: in singles and in teams alongside Mateja Pintar, who also won bronze in singles and later that year became Paralympic champion in Athens.

China as well

The competition was gaining recognition and began to grow and Sports federation for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee took over its organization as the umbrella national organization for para sport in Slovenia. With new experience in organization the event was becoming more and more prominent, recognized and influential every year, while still constantly groving and developing. It found its home in Laško. It only changed location once: in 2007 it moved to Kranjska Gora, but with good reason. Namely, Kranjska Gora was where Slovenia was to host the European Para Table Tennis Championship that year, and what better way to test the waters than putting on Slovenia Open there first as well. Still, the tournament grew: in 2008 the number of participating countries surpassed 30, reached 40 in 2015 and broke the record with 52 two years ago. The 8^th tournament, in 2011, was a special milestone with 342 players from 36 countries, which for the first time ever included the table tennis super power China.

Overcame even COVID-19

Every year brought on new challenges. There was no Slovenia Open in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that greatly impacted the athletes and organizers as well. But in 2022 it was back, NPC Slovenia successfully applied all necessary protocols to combat the virus in Laško and executed the tournament. It needs to be pointed out that para table tennis was played in 2021 as well in Laško despite COVID-19. It’s where Slovenia hosted the first ever Paralympic qualification tournament. “Come to think of it, the qualification tournament and the COVID-19 period weren’t all that challenging for us. I’m glad we prepared for the 2021 event extremely well, we had clear rules and protocols in place, and especially amazing support at the Laško Health Centre and Celje General Hospital, which provided expert assistance on the primary as well as the secondary levels,” Damijan Lazar, president of NPC Slovenia remembers the COVID-19 times. “Challenges came up and will continue to come up – but that is what drives para sport, the world and also our event, to which I wish all the best and many more successful returns,” concludes Damijan Lazar, who used to be a para table tennis player and coach himself.

The doubles finals wrapped up the 19th I Feel Slovenia Thermana Open, the biggest para table tennis tournament in the world. The event was superbly organized by the Sports Federation for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee, the national umbrella association for parasport in Slovenia. This was also the last tournament on such a high level before the Paralympic Games in Paris, taking place between August 28^th and September 8^th.

“This was once again an extremely strong tournament, 274 players from 45 countries participated. The only team missing from it was China, but they haven’t come as a complete team to any of the competitions this year. There were some fewer athletes than in the previous years, which is understandable: this is a Paralympic year and most of the players have already qualified for Paris. A number of those used the Laško event as training for the doubles as these will be part of the Paralympic programme for the first time ever this year. I would also like to point out that due to a lower number of participants, the event’s schedule was much easier on the players. When it is at its full capacity, the games are on from 8 a.m. till 10 p.m., but this time we were able to have the last rounds start at 7 p.m., therefore the athletes had more time for recovery,” said the tournament director Gorazd Vecko, who was once again in Laško also as the British national para table tennis manager.

“I would like to especially thank the tournament management team, to all the players and national team members, who came to Laško, and all the partners who support our para sport story. I can say that we have been together for 20 years now. First on this list must be Thermana Laško, covering all our accommodation and catering needs, the Tri Lilije sports hall and its manager, the Nomago transport group and the municipality of Laško, which co-organizes the event and assists especially with the accessibility issues. I am happy that the venue in Laško got proper air-conditioning, which allows for an even higher quality of events there. We have developed the tournament with sustainability in mind: PVC products are not used anymore and have been replaced by (also) paper ones. The umpires used paper bags instead of plastic ones for the rackets, for example. Water was made available in tanks and the cups were made of eco-friendly materials,” said Damijan Lazar, NPC Slovenia and OC president, emphasizing the importance of Slovenia hosting this event for the local, sports and national environments.

“This event matters! And reporting on it introduces us to the Slovenian public, and para sport to people with disabilities who might not be taking up any sports yet. Such events, such sports competitions of the highest international level are a great invitation for everyone to try their hands at para sports. And para sport is the means that enables disabled people an easier and better socialization,” Lazar adds.

The 19^th I Feel Slovenia Thermana Open champions in singles are: Giada Rossi (ITA), Jiyu Yoon (KOR), Borislava Peric-Rankovic (SRB), Sunghye Moon (KOR), Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR), Bly Twomey (GBR), Florencia Perez (CHI), Li Na Lei (AUS), Qian Yang (AUS), Ebru Acer (TUR); Hyeon Uk Kim (KOR), Fabien Lamirault (FRA), Jenson Van Emburgh (USA), Wanchai Chaiwut (THA), Ming Chih Cheng (TPE), Matteo Parenzan (ITA), William John Bayley (GBR), Clement Berthier (FRA), Laurens Devos (BEL), Filip Radovic (MNG), Samuel Philip Von Einem (AUS). Republic of Korea was the most successful nation in the doubles events, winning 2 golds, followed by one gold for Japan, Poland, France, Thailand, Sweden, Great Britain, Turky, Norway and Taiwan.

The athletes and Slovenia Open always feel at home and welcome in Laško. But this year they will all be hosted in a renovated Tri Lilije hall. The investment was co-financed by the Slovenian Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (250,000 EUR) and the Foundation for Sport (38,744 EUR), covering two segments: the modernization of the cooling system, and replacement of the parquet floor, repairs and cleaning of the mobile stands plus new markings on the floor.

“We love the renovated venue, opening up new dimensions and possibilities for development of sports tourism in Laško,” concludes Vecko, who will also be traditionally putting together the world’s strongest training camp in Laško in the summer as part of preparations for the Paralympic Games. More than 10 countries have already confirmed their involvement and the participants in the camp usually win between 25-35 medals at the Paralympics.