ITTF No.4 (Jan) Final (2023_01_12)

ITTF SUMMIT
Family Reunion in Amman
A
host of topics ranging terms or cast votes to approve
from establishing or reject propositions; it was
a business model both an end and a beginning.
to good governance, from It marked the conclusion to
looking into the crystal ball to a period of enforced inaction.
inclusion and diversity; such The calendar in 2022 had
was the extensive agenda at witnessed a step-by-step
the ITTF Summit staged from return to international
Sunday 4th to Tuesday 6th competition but with necessary
December in the Jordanian restrictions. Somewhat
capital city of Amman.
differently, the calendar for
Presentations occupied the 2023 comprises a major
first two days, the Annual injection of events, setting the
General Meeting concluded scene for a 2024 version full to
proceedings.
the brim, even more extensive
The pandemic on the
than in the days when noone
had heard of COVID-19
wane, at last delegates and
officials were able meet in or even believed that such a
person, not gather in virtual phenomenon was possible.
reality. Welcoming hugs
Overall, in excess of
renewed friendships, convivial 150 delegates present,
handshakes forged new understandably views
acquaintances, views were diverged but one common
exchanged over breakfast, factor, with which all were in
lunch, dinner and coffee accord, was the fact it was a
breaks. Once again, the good moment for the sport of
“family” was together.
table tennis. It was a time to
However, the occasion keep an open mind, embrace
was more than just another new ideas and gradually raise
chance to meet on social the bar.
The Summit
Prior to the official start of proceedings, the ITTF
Executive Committee, ITTF Council, ITTF Board of
Directors and ITTF Athletes’ Commission met.
An extensive agenda:
•Growing the table tennis industry
•Becoming a leading international federation
•The sport of table tennis in 50 years
•Sustainability, the only way forward
•Events for all
•Home of table tennis
•The ITTF Corporate Cup
Also, it was a time for
thought, Abdul and Mahmoud
Raman, father and son,
refugees at the Z’aatari
Refugee camp in Jordan stole
the show; explaining how
table tennis was vital to their
lives, they brought tears
to the eyes and received a
standing ovation.
Positivity for a groundbreaking
event but of course whenever
such projects are a first,
appraisal is needed, a fact
of which Petra Sörling, ITTF
President, was well aware.
“I want to thank our
Jordanian hosts for such an
amazing Summit, there is so
much to take away from our
discussions and I cannot wait
to implement many of the
ideas discussed”, she said. “I
cannot wait for this event to
return in 2023; we will fine
tune our programme to have
even more interactions with
our member associations.”
Returning in 2023, that is
the key, no voice was raised in
protest, it underlines the fact
the initiative was a success.
It is proposed that the 2023
ITTF Summit will include the
Annual General Meeting and
will be hosted in the second
half of the year; it will not
be held during the World
Championships Finals in
Durban. In the South African
city, the focus will be on the
arena, the players, the reason
why we all met in Amman.
HRH Faisal bin Hussein was welcomed by members of the ITTF Executive Committee
The final day was allocated to the Annual General Meeting.
Petra Sörling, ITTF President
Khalil Al-Mohannadi
Executive Vice President
Steve Dainton, ITTF Chief Executive Officer
6 -ITTF Magazine ITTF Magazine- 7