24 April 2025 - Summary of the Belgrade Senior Tournament

On 24 April 2025, the OLDPONG project held its first international senior table tennis tournament in Belgrade, hosted at the Bežanijska Kosa Retirement Home. The event marked the official launch of the project’s piloting phase and gathered more than 50 seniors aged 60+ and 70+ from Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary. Organised as an open-day activity, the tournament promoted accessibility by welcoming participants of all skill levels. The competition followed a Round-Robin format, with separate men’s and women’s categories to ensure fairness and broaden participation. The structure enabled all players to engage in multiple matches, fostering physical activity, confidence, and social interaction. Winners received medals and diplomas, as shown in the photo documentation included in the event minutes (pages 4–5). The tournament contributed substantially to OLDPONG’s objectives by strengthening mobility, coordination, and cognitive engagement in seniors while encouraging community building and international exchange. It also provided valuable evaluation data for WP3, including observation notes, participant feedback, and demographic information. The event exceeded expectations in participation, atmosphere, and impact, establishing a strong foundation for subsequent tournaments in Osijek and Zagreb.