It's becoming something of a hot potato. The torrid tuber, celebrated star of stage and screen, now prepares for its greatest role, The European Olympic Singles Qualification tournament. As such, this tireless thespian portrays the last hope for all those anxious European table tennis players living in limbo, having thus far failed to secure an Olympic berth by various other means (e.g. via continental championships, mixed doubles or team qualifiers, world ranking, or good, old-fashioned cajoling, threats, bribes and/or blackmail). Originally scheduled for February in Moscow, the tournament was consigned to uncertainty when the Russian Table Tennis Federation, citing logistical concerns related to transportation in the age of COVID-19, got cold feet. As Russia punted the piping-hot potato, Portugal was all too happy to catch it. The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) then officially moved the Olympic qualifiers to the Pavilhão Multiusos de Odivelas in the greater Lisbon area, this February 10-14. Now, the poor potato has been punted yet again, not across the continent but farther down the calendar. According to the ETTU, "The Executive Board took into consideration the confirmation from ITTF that Continental Qualification tournaments may be completed before 30th April 2021, the continuing [COVID-19] situation across Europe and the requests from member Associations to play at a later date." With these factors in mind, the ETTU reached the stunningly rational decision to delay the qualifiers as late as possible. Therefore, the latest landing spot for the steaming spud is April 21-25 in the aforementioned Pavilhão Multiusos. Four women and five men will earn golden tickets to this summer's Tokyo Olympics. It is unclear, however, whether this disparity is a function of the structure of the labyrinthine qualification system or simply good, old-fashioned sexism. In any case, one hopes the COVID-19 protocols developed over the preceding year, in tandem with vaccinations, will create the purest playground possible for Europe's elite athletes. We also wish the potato a speedy recovery from any injuries sustained in its thankless service to metaphor.

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