Okay, kids, you'd better sit down. I've got some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news. As you know, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has been shut down since March because of the icky coronavirus. It seems like everything has been postponed or canceled this year— even the Olympics! As you may have heard, the 2020 ITTF World Junior Championships have been canceled. You have all been very brave in the ITTF World Junior Circuit, and I am very proud of you. I know how much you were looking forward to going to Portugal after Thanksgiving to play with your friends, but it's just not safe. I know, it's not fair, and of course you would have probably almost certainly won, so I'm extra sorry you can't go. Now, the good news. You know the ITTF's new commercial enterprise, World Table Tennis (WTT), which is set to revolutionize the sport starting in 2021? Of course you do! Well, they have a new program for you kids that's even better than that dumb old ITTF World Junior Circuit. It's called the WTT Youth Series, and it's going to be so much fun! For one thing, they have way more events. Remember how there were only two age groups, junior (under 18) and cadet (under 15)? Well, next year they'll have divisions for under 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. That means way more events and way more fun! There will even be two levels of competition called WTT Youth Contenders and WTT Youth Star Contenders so you can always find a good match. Every time you play, you can get points to climb up in the world rankings, and there is lots more prize money now! I know this is a lot to process all at once. You might even be scared, and that's okay. Change is always scary, but it's part of growing up. It's going to be fun, I promise. Just think of all the new friends you'll make!

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