June 8, 2010
“Academy for the future”
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Courtesy of Butterfly-World |
That is a very complex question. Naturally the Asians are still setting the standard. In Europe there are regularly new, good players coming up but a financial basis is lacking to build up a broader system for the juniors. At the moment you can find some table tennis oasis around one super talent. Today it is also pure luck if I happen to live close to a table tennis centre or have the possibility to move there. Furthermore you must be lucky to work together with a qualified coach so that the player can develop further and stays motivated for the sport. But as I said, instead of having a few “islands” where this happens there should be more educational centers in the whole of Europe.
Is that the reason for the founding of the Werner-Schlager-Academy (WSA)?
That would be only half of the truth. At first I tried to change some things positively together with the association for two years. That simply didn’t work. Then I decided with my partner Martin Soros to start such a project. It was the right decision at the right time, because the WSA is supported by the state, the town and private sponsors. We fought hard for it but you also need a little bit of luck.
Does that mean that the Werner-Schlager-Academy will have the quality of players, coaches, surroundings and conditions tied together at a place like Vienna to achieve success?
Not completely. Naturally we want to be successful with collective competence but we also aim for passing our knowledge on to others. We produce an individual table tennis knowledge which can be used at home afterwards.
Is it also the meaning of this project to inspire other nations to copy it?
That would be brilliant if there would be hundreds of such centers in Europe. That would be a step in the right direction.
During the WC in Moscow the decision has been made: Butterfly will be premium partner of the WSA.
The cooperation with Butterfly was very important to me. I am a “Butterfly” through and through and still thrive as a player with this company. Butterfly is the biggest table tennis trade mark in the world and really suits our plans. Simultaneously that also means important support of the Academy during such an early phase.
Are you withdrawing from active sport and just take care of the Academy or can we see a Werner Schlager also in the future?
The WSA is being taken good care of by my partners Martin Soros and Mario Amizic. So I can still concentrate on playing a bit more. I will keep going as long as my body is coping with it. At the moment I am still really enjoying it.
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