Once global sport resumes following the coronavirus pandemic, the aspiring youngsters and established stars of Colombian tennis will stroll past a gleaming new plaque as they arrive at the Colombian Tennis Federation’s National Training Centre (NTC).

Adorning the walls of Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Bogota will be certification that the nation’s NTC has been awarded Silver Level status by the International Tennis Federation.

“For Colombian tennis, this is very important news,” said Colombian Tennis Federation President David Samudio.

“To have silver certification means that our High Performance Centre is one of the best in the world, that it’s at the level of countries who have a great tradition in this sport and that it has all the infrastructure necessary in order to form champions.”

It is hoped that the accrediting of the NTC will contribute to the continued elevation of standards across the board and help Colombian tennis prosper and scale new heights in the months and years ahead.

“It serves as motivation to continue working, in order to build more processes and continue improving the quality of our classes and the players who train there,” said Nelson Cardenas, Director of the High Performance Centre.

“We are certain that part of this success has not been from an economic investment but from the quality and talent of the people in our workforce and team.”

This recognition will allow the Colombian Tennis Federation to use the ITF logo as a sign of quality control for their NTC, with the facility able to bear the hallmark for the next four years.

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Colombian Tennis Federation on having its NTC approved at Silver Level by the ITF,” said Luca Santilli, Executive Director – ITF Tennis Development Department.

Meanwhile, the success of the Colombian NTC and its Silver Level grading has not gone unnoticed at Government level.

“I want to send my best wishes to the Colombian Tennis Federation, to their President and to their Executive Committee, to the players, trainers, leagues and clubs of the country,” said Ernesto Lucena, Colombia’s Minister of Sports.

“This certification that has been awarded to the High Performance Centre is an achievement for you all and by working as a team we will continue to achieve these sorts of accolades.

“I hope to see them very soon and to continue working hand in hand, in order that Colombia and the talents of Colombian tennis can continue to shine.”

In 2018, the ITF and several leading tennis nations established the criteria and minimum standards for NTCs to ensure quality standards worldwide. ITF recognition is based on a series of criteria and minimum standards at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels.

Applicant nations are required to provide documentary evidence and have their NTC undergo an inspection to show that systems and procedures are in place in five key areas – facilities and equipment, management, coaching team, sports science and medicine, and player programmes.

The programme also presents a unique opportunity for the Tennis Integrity Unit to integrate a nine-point set of Integrity standards and best practice polices for NTCs to adopt. These criteria are designed to support NTCs in creating the right environment for developing individuals, with an emphasis on informing and educating players, coaches and staff.

For those developing nations who aspire to achieve such recognition, the ITF offers help in the form of Facility Grants, visits from Development Officers and ITF experts, and the provision of ITF-approved materials on the running of an NTC and effective programmes.

Further information on how the ITF is growing the game and ITF recognition of National Training Centres is available by clicking here.