January 4, 2012
Action Packed Thirteenth Year for ITTF Development Program
 Ramon Ortega, the intrepid Moncho, at work in schools in Haiti Photo By: Courtesy of Ramon Ortega |
Courtesy of ITTF When the ITTF Development Program began in 1999, one of the aims was to have table tennis played in every country of the world. |
Membership of the International Table Tennis Federation was 180 at that time; today that membership stands at 215, more than the International Olympic Committee (IOC), more than FIFA(Football) and second only to Volleyball in the number of member associations and closing fast.
There are only eight countries with National Olympic Committees that are not ITTF members and we have them very firmly in our sights for 2012, so we are well on the way to achieving our aim.
2011 Highlights
Of course there is too many highlights to mention on these pages so I will list but a few:
Qatar Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup
On the 40th anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy, we brought together countries in conflict as a doubles team to send a message to their leaders. Hope you saw the documentary on ITV (it’s still there).
ITTF Level Two Course in Baghdad, Iraq
Led by Egypt’s Ahmed Dawlatly, the International Table Tennis Federation was the first sport to venture back into Baghdad post-war. A well organized, high level course in Iraq’s new sports venue was the result.
Mozambique
Without a National Federation less than 12 months before the Africa Games, there was a steep learning curve.
However, with Coach Education, Umpire, Referee and Tournament Organization courses provided by the ITTF Development Program, equipment from TMS and ITTF Development Program together with a team effort from the Africa Table Tennis Federation and Khaled El-Salhy, a great event resulted. Course Conductors Leandro Olvech, Delano Lai Fatt and Mohammed Bassyoni and Polona Cehovin Susin worked tirelessly to ensure success.
Caribbean
Switzerland’s Georg Silberschmidt became known as the unofficial “Caribbean Development Officer” conducting several courses for the ITTF Development Program in that region.
Furthermore, he conducted multiple courses without salary, at this own initiative and on his holidays, collecting several new members for ITTF on the way.
Hats off to you Georg!!
In Qatar Peace & Sport Cup the two Koreas joined forces
Photo by Ahmed Taha Nada
Nittaku Dream Building in El Salvador
“Nittaku Dream Building in El Salvador” worked with 400 orphaned or abandoned children in the far reaches of El Salvador. Our man with a passion for social projects, Leandro Olvech, combined with ITTF Vice President responsible for development, Melecio Rivera and Nittaku, in a project which touched the hearts of even these battle-weary generals.
Haiti
Ramon Ortega Montes, “Moncho”, our most multi-skilled course conductor with skills in Coach Education, Umpires and Referees Education, as an ITTF Competition Manager (and a very skilled masseur for Spanish Table Tennis Federation), took on one of the biggest and toughest gigs for 2011.
In Port au Prince, Haiti, he led an Olympic Solidarity Course and assisted with the implementation of the ITTF Haiti Project, where significant funds and equipment were collected. In daily contact with Polona Cehovin Susin guiding the way, an intensive five weeks in difficult circumstances produced great results.
Furthermore, he will return for another five week stint in February 2012.
Scott Houston in Oceania
The energy and passion of youth was on full display for three years in the Oceania Development Program in the form of Scott Houston.
A first ever ITTF-Oceania Cup in 2011, with sponsorship, television, entertainment and professionally done almost single handed was a highlight among many. Scott is moving on to a new life challenge so we wish him every success and thank him for his legacy.
Peace Project in Burundi, Congo Democratic
The year ended with the great story on the Burundi, Congo Democratic border where two villages either side of the border were targeted for our latest Peace and Sport Project.
Switzerland’s Georg Silberschmidt led the way for ITTF, with Peter Karlsson filling the role of “Champion for Peace” for the third time in three years and our Media Manager, Richard Pettit, there to record and inform all of what occurred.
Two children from each village will attend the World Championships in Dortmund next year to interact with German children of similar ages.
Peace and Sport Project in Burundi brought the year to a conclusion
Photo by Richard Pettit
Fascinating Stories
For every person that led one of the 102 Development Program Courses in 2011, each was a highlight and each had its own great story.
Talk to any of the course conductors listed below; you will no doubt hear a fascinating story.
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 for their support and advice, and especially the ITTF Vice President responsible for Development, Melecio Rivera.
Continental Presidents
Khaled El Salhy (Africa), Cai Zhenhua (Asia), Stefano Bosi (Europe), Osvaldo Borges (Latin America), Mike Cavanaugh (North America), Patrick Gillmann (Oceania) for their close co-operation and leadership.
Leandro Olvech visited El Salvador to setup Nittaku Dream Building
Photo by Carlos Esnard
Development Staff
One could not ask for two more passionate and hard-working staff than Leandro Olvech (ITTF Deputy Executive Director-Development) and Polona Cehovin Susin (Deputy Executive Director Education & Training), who works halftime in each of the Development and Education & Training Departments and a natural bridge between the two.
Continental Development Officers
Thanks to: Afshin Badiee (Asia), Lilamani de Soysa (Europe), Evelio Alvarez (Latin America), and Scott Houston (Oceania) for their untiring efforts in implementing the Continental Development Plans.
Course Conductors
A total of 71 ITTF Coaches and Course Conductors conducted 102 ITTF Development Program or Olympic Solidarity Courses in 2011.
We salute you in this important work!
(In alphabetical order)
Evelio Alvarez (CUB), Mikael Andersson (SWE), Rafael Armendariz (ECU), Mohamed Atoum (JOR), Afshin Badiee (IRI), Mohammed Bassyoni (EGY), Edwin Bautista (COL), Branka Batinic (HRV), Jan Berner (SWE), Michael Brown (AUS), Raul Calin (ESP), Régis Canor (FRA), Emanuel Christiansson (SWE), Sydney Christophe (GUY), Gilles Corbion (FRA), Lilamani de Soysa (SUI), Eric Duduc (FRA), Delano Lai Fatt (CAN), Chan Foong Keong (MAS), Junya Chen (USA), Sylvain Chermette (FRA), Massimo Costantini (ITA), Abilio Cruz (ESP), Steve Dainton (AUS), Dilmini Direckze (SRI), Ahmed El-Dawlatly (EGY), Carlos Esnard (ESA), Ricardo Faria (POR), Joe Fischer (CAN), Alejandra Gabaglio (ARG), Cathy Gauthier (FRA), Wayne Gear (NZL), Mohamed Gharib (EGY),Patrick Gillmann(NCL), Scott Houston (AUS), Tokannata Ioatene (KIR), Bose Kaffo (NGR), Tanja Kajtna (SVN), Peter Karlsson (SWE), Ferenc Karsai (HUN), Arif Khan (PAK), Leszek Kucharski (POL), Kaka Lawson (TOG), Erik Lindh (SWE), Ham Lulu (VAN), Juan Carlos Medina (VEN), Miao Miao (AUS), Philippe Molodzoff (FRA), Richard McAfee (USA), Ronald Mugwanya (UGA), Leandro Olvech (ARG), Ramon Ortega (ESP), Dejan Papic (VAN), Simote Manumanu Pepe (TON), Luisana Perez (VEN), Richard Prause (GER), Youssef Rabie (EGY), Steve Reilly (SCO), Patrick Ringel (FRA), Alois Rosario (AUS), Francisco Seijas (VEN), Cyril Sen (MAS), Georg Silberschmidt (SUI), Polona Cehovin Susin (SVN), Karima Tellaa (ALG), Glenn Tepper (AUS, Blas Torres (PAR), Luis Valdes (MEX), Lincon Yasuda (BRA), Aleksey Yefremov (BLR), Michael Zwipp (GER).
Xiom was one of the companies to offer outstanding help in 2011
Photo by Richard McAfee
The Manufacturers and Supporters
Butterfly and Stag for their kind and unwavering support of the ITTF Development Program since day one back in 1999.
Nittaku, Xiom and Tibhar for funding special projects in 2011.
The Chinese Table Tennis Association for their equipment support of the ITTF-ATTU Development Program.
The German Table Tennis Federation for their equipment support and support of the “Ping Pong Paix” Peace and Sport Project in Burundi, Congo Democratic.
Foundation for Global Sports Development for their support of the ITTF Development Program.
Olympic Solidarity and in particular Pere Miro, Yassine Yousfi, Carina Dragomir, and Cynthia Anami for their close co-operation and support.
Peace & Sport and in particular Joel Bouzou, Yann Coelenbier, and Ludovic Huebler for their close co-operation on projects in Colombia, East Timor and Burundi-Congo DR, as well as the Peace & Sport Cup, all of which make a real difference.
ITTF Staff
Mikael Andersson for passionate and visionary leadership together with close co-operation between Education and Training and Development Departments.
ITTF staff members who worked closely and tirelessly with the ITTF Development Program: Judit Farago Jordi Serra, Steve Dainton, Raul Calin, Ian Marshall, Richard Pettit, Mo El-Shentenawy, Mohamed El-Dawlatly, Habiba Besic, Violet Le Blanc.
Ahmed El-Dawlatly (back row-centre) visited Iraq in 2011
Photo courtesy of Ahmed Dawlatly
All of you have made a big contribution to the development of table tennis worldwide! Thank you!
- Glenn Tepper, ITTF Deputy CEO/Executive Director-Development
| Download the latest Flash Player to view content. |
