June 3, 2010
The Table Tennis Family of Nations Bigger than United Nations
 Scott Houston (back right) on a recent visit to Norfolk Ialand Photo By: Courtesy of Scott Houston |
Courtesy of ITTF It was a privilege to witness such skill. However, table tennis is more, much more than an athletic sport. It is a sport that exercises both mind and body, it is the sport for all. |
There is no difference; it is the same whether you come from an established table tennis nation or a developing one.
It is the same if you are from a powerhouse table tennis nation like China, Germany or Japan or whether you hail from a minnow like Swaziland, Norfolk Island or Anguilla, yet to make their debuts at a World Championships.
Swaziland
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a landlocked country in Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. The capital city is Mbabane.
Swaziland gained independence in 1968 and the population is about 1.2 million; the economy is dominated by the service industry, manufacturing and agriculture.
Some 75% of the population is employed in subsistence farming, and 60% of the population lives on less than the equivalent of US$1.25 per day.
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The capital is Kingston, same name as the capital of Jamaica.
The population of Norfolk Island is only 2141 inhabitants.
The evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island and is thus pictured on its flag. Native to the island, the pine is a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia, where two related species grow.
Anguilla
Anguilla is in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.
It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself, approximately 26 km long by 5 km wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands with no permanent population. The island's capital is The Valley.
The total land area of the territory is 91 km2 with a population of approximately 13,500.
Common Factor
Is there something in common among them?
What do they have in common besides having English as official language?
That they became ITTF members during the ITTF World Championships!
Policy
Norfolk Island, Swaziland and Anguilla all submitted applications to become members of the International Table Tennis Federation; according to the ITTF regulations, the acceptance has to be approved by the ITTF Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting held during the World Championships in Moscow on Wednesday 26th May approved unanimously the acceptance of these three members.
What does 210 members mean?
International Federations
It means the ITTF has now 210 members and are now number four among all sports in terms of memberships, the only international federations with greater number are FIVB (Volleyball) with 220 members, IAAF (Athletics) and FIBA (Basketball) both with 213 members.
Just to have an idea about how significant is the ITTF presence worldwide, compared with the United Nations or International Olympic Committee membership; ITTF has 210, IOC has 205 and UN 192.
How Possible?
How is possible that some sport international governing bodies to have more members than the International Olympic Committee or United Nations?
In fact there some members that are not recognized by the International Olympic Committee or United Nations because they do not meet the criteria for membership, like Anguilla, that is a British overseas territory or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which in Sports is split in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.
Next Steps
Becoming a new member is not only increasing ITTF statistics, the Development Department is already planning to assist them as newest members are a priority for the ITTF.
Anguilla will receive this year an assistance equipment package with six tables, nets and scorers plus 80 rackets and eight gross of balls through the ITTF-LATTU Development Program.
Swaziland will be visited in September by Leandro Olvech for a coaching course and to advise on their next steps.
Already Visited
Norfolk Island has already been visited by the Oceania Development Officer, Scott Houston, in November 2009 when he organized a development project working with three main aims, close contacts with schools, helping local people to run the national table tennis association, and to assist with membership requirements now we can see the results of his job.
Norfolk will receive an equipment package through the ITTF-OTTF Development Program in the coming months.
Teamwork
A total of 210 members is the result of teamwork behind, since the implementation of the Development program in 1999 the ITTF welcomed 30 new members.
It could not be possible if the ITTF Executives, Continental Associations and the ITTF Staff are not aligned with the same aims.
Co-operation
“Since 1999, we have been contacting all potential member countries and in particular countries with National Olympic Committees through every means possible”, said Glenn Tepper, ITTF Executive Director-Development. “Direct contact has been sought through National Olympic Committees, Regional Multi-Sport Games, Development Officer visits, Continental Olympic Committee meetings, Continental Presidents and personal contacts of many people connected with the International Table Tennis Federation.”
Targets
Furthermore, there are very definite targets.
“Our next targets are Cape Verde, Mali, Guinea-Bisseau, SaoTome-Principe,Chad, Mozambique, and Eritrea in Africa and Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands in Latin America”, added Glenn Tepper. “These are the sole remaining countries with National Olympic Committee’s who are not ITTF Members. Anyone with contacts in these countries please let us know.”
No Joke
Equally Leandro Olvech, ITTF Development Manager, is envisaging more growth.
“Some cases were very particular, like Cayman Island; Jordi Serra, ITTF Executive Director-Operations and Olympic Games found an article on the internet that mentioned on the Island they were playing table tennis in a school and starting to organize the sport”, said Leandro Olvech. “He passed that information to the Development Department and we contacted them, firstly by email and then by phone; when they knew the ITTF was contacting them they thought it was a joke; not at all! Happy end for this story, they are members since last year.”
No joke!
Equal Importance
“It also another case of inclusive policy, besides receiving assistance through the Development Program, these three new members will have the right to participate in the next World Championships and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Editor’s Challenge
On November 2008, we were challenged by the ITTF Editor, Ian Marshall, who finished an article saying “At the moment we anticipate 206 member nations in the table tennis family of the International Table Tennis Federation in 2009; now 206 in 209 is not the best slogan but here’s the slogan and here’s the challenge.
Can we do it? How about 210 by 2010?
Is now the challenge 220 for 2020?
Definitely and more!
The beautiful waters of Anguilla (left) and Zebras in Swaziland (right).
Photos courtesy of Leandro Olvech
A decade of growth.
Photos courtesy of Leandro Olvech
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