Table Tennis Para Camp not just about table work  

The table tennis para camp was held across the 19-21 March. It was the first national para-camp that has been held since January 2020. 

The camp wasn’t just about table work, it was an opportunity to bring all of the program specialists together to work with the athletes. Presentations were held with the whole squad as well as a separate presentation for the Tokyo Long List members to provide them with updates.  

“It was great to get everyone together, we had our national para coaches and all our program specialists there and we were able to conduct on table sessions and presentations for both the whole squad as well as for our Tokyo longlist members,” said Sue Stevenson, the National Program Manager - Para. 

Para-table tennis was the first sport to trial Essendon’s new dorm facilities during the camp that have been built as part of the building add-on for the women’s AFL. 

“Normally our athletes and staff would stay at the Hotel close by and use vans and cars to transport athletes to and from the venue between sessions. But the new accommodation facilities at Essendon are fully wheelchair accessible which makes holding the camp much easier as both the athletes and staff can stay on site,” Stevenson said. 

“Essendon and Paralympics Australia couldn’t do enough for us in the lead up to and during the camp to make it a great success.”