• HOME
• PRODUCTS
  • Balls|
  • Bulk|
  • Gear|
  • Net & Court Accessories|
  • Rackets|
  • Pool Table Conversion Tops|
  • Racket Care|
  • Robots|
  • Tables
• GO PLAY
  • Clubs|
  • Leagues|
  • Tournaments|
• NEWS
• DEALERS
• PLAYERS
• RULES
• FAQ
• ABOUT US
• CONTACT US

January 2, 2009

ITTF Development Program Turns Ten!

Moving day in Colombia where "Peace and Sport" in conjuction with the ITTF Goodwill Fund is at work Photo By: Leandro Olvech

Courtesy of ITTF In 1998, ITTF Deputy President, Adham Sharara, had a vision to develop table tennis worldwide. As the newly elected President in 1999 he had many new and innovative ideas, one of the most successful programs was certainly the ITTF Development Program. What started as a pilot project in Oceania in 1999 was very successful and was expanded to all continents by 2002.

The membership of the International Table Tennis Federation in 1998 was 180; today it stands at 205.

From these humble beginnings, the ITTF Development Program now regularly conducts around 100 courses per year and provides equipment assistance to approximately 40 countries per year.

History
The history of the International Table Tennis Federation in using table tennis as a vehicle for social change has grown and evolved.

It has progressed from “Ping Pong Diplomacy” in China to assisting South Africa through the post-apartheid period and helping East Timor with National Olympic Committee recognition whilst also acknowledging Kosovo.

ITTF Goodwill Fund
The “Tsunami Rebuilding Project” and “Ishraq Women’s Project” led to the establishment of the ITTF Goodwill Fund, which has assisted in disadvantaged areas of Iraq, Peru, Congo DR, Ukraine, Uganda, Jamaica and the Balkans.

In 2008 a new direction was taken with partnerships and programs involving the United Nations (Yemen), Peace and Sport (Colombia) and Generations for Peace (Afghanistan, Sudan, Palestine).

Team Effort
The success of the ITTF Development Program is very much a team effort. Deepest thanks to those that contributed to the success of the ITTF Development Program including:

ITTF President
ITTF President, Adham Sharara for his vision, leadership and support

ITTF Executive Committee
The ITTF Executive Committee and especially the member responsible for Development, Yang Sh’uan, plus George Segun for his wise counsel, Claude Bergeret for her assistance with the Women’s Program and Neil Harwood for his assistance in Oceania.

ITTF Continental Vice Presidents
Chérif Hajem (Africa), Choo Wee Khiang (Asia), Stefano Bosi (Europe), Melecio Rivera (Latin America) Bruce Burton (North America) Patrick Gillmann (Oceania) for their close co-operation and leadership.

Co-ordinator of Development Programmes
Leandro Olvech, my “right hand man”, joining the team a little over a year ago with a passion to “make a difference”.

The Continental Development Officers
Afshin Badiee (Asia), Zita Pidl (Europe), Evelio Alvarez (Latin America), Andrew Hubbard (Oceania) for their untiring efforts in implementing the Continental Development Plans.

Fifty Six ITTF Coaches and Course Conductors that conducted ITTF Development Program or Olympic Solidarity Courses in 2008 (alphabetical order)
To those that conducted courses, we salute you in this important work!

Martin Adomeit (Germany), Fernando Aguilar (Costa Rica), Evelio Alvarez (Cuba), Mikael Andersson (Sweden), Afshin Badiee (Iran), Manasse Batix (France), Claude Bergeret (France), Jan Berner (Sweden), Raul Calin (Spain), Peri Campbell-Innes (Australia), Chen JunYa(USA), Sylvain Chermette (France) Emannuel Christiansson (Sweden), Massimo Costantini (Italy), George Damianov (Canada), Ahmed Dawlatly (Egypt), Dave Delpratt (Australia), Lilamani de Soysa (Switzerland), Aleksey Efremov (Belarus), Carlos Esnard (El Salvador), Keith Evans (USA), Ricardo Faria (Portugal), Joe Fischer (Canada), Alejandra Gabaglio (Argentina), Wayne Gear (New Zealand), Amelia Gheorghe (USA), Marcus Gustafsson (Sweden), Andrew Hubbard (New Zealand), Azmy Ibrahim (USA),Graeme Ireland (Australia), Borje Karlsson (Sweden), Peter Karlsson (Sweden), Bwebwenimeang Kaureta (Kiribati), Jarek Kolodziejczyk (Poland), Delano Lai Fatt (Canada), Kaka Lawson (Togo), Sima Limoochi [Iran), Anolyn Lulu (Vanuatu), Marles Martins (Brazil), Kamlesh Mehta (India), Ronald Mugwanya (Uganda), Marcos Nunez (Chile), Leandro Olvech (Argentina), Ramon Ortega (Spain), Zita Pidl (Hungary), Thierry Priou (France), Steve Reilly (Scotland), Patrick Ringel (France), Francisco Seijas (Venezuela), Cyril Sen (Malaysia), Richard Scruton (England), Georg Silberschmidt (Switzerland), Mike Skinner (Canada), Polona Susin (Slovenia), Surendra Suwal (Nepal), Karima Tellaa (Algeria)

The Manufacturers
Butterfly and Stag for their kind and unwavering support of the ITTF Development Program

ITTF Staff
ITTF staff members who worked closely and tirelessly with the ITTF Development Program: Jordi Serra, Mikael Andersson, Raul Calin,, Ian Marshall, Marius Widmer, Steve Dainton, Lilamani De Soysa, Mo El-Shentenawy, Habiba Besic, Violet Le Blanc

All of you have made a big contribution to the development of table tennis worldwide!

Thank you!

Editor's Note
Many thanks to Glenn Tepper for promoting the International Table Tennis Federation in such a positive manner and enriching the lives of people worldwide.