The ITTF Continental Council (ITTF CC) held its first meeting on Sunday 16 January, providing valuable input and strategic guidance to the ITTF leadership.
Created following the 2021 ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM), the ITTF CC is an extended arm of the ITTF Executive Committee. It consists of the members of the Executive Committee and the Presidents of the continental federations.
Messrs Khaled El-Salhy, President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Juan Vila, President of ITTF Americas, Khalil Al-Mohannadi, President of the Asian Table Tennis Union, Igor Levitin, President of the European Table Tennis Union, and Graeme Ireland, President of ITTF Oceania, joined the meeting remotely.
“I’m confident that we have opened the field for the Continental Presidents to provide valuable input and guidance with the new ITTF Continental Council in place,” said ITTF President Petra Sörling. “I will make sure our organisation listens, cares, and understands the membership and its different challenges, especially following such a long and challenging time with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting everything we try to do. Maintaining close contact and dialogue while communicating more remains the highest priority for the ITTF.”
The ITTF CC is an optimal platform, and its members will provide the proper continental input needed for all strategic decisions. The content of the ITTF CC meetings will be reported yearly, during the AGM.
“I am so happy to have attended the first meeting of the ITTF Continental Council. It is a huge step forward for ITTF, with good communication and discussions between the Executive Committee and the representatives of all Continents. Each continent can make its case regarding dates, individual calendar and vision before the Executive Committee takes the final decisions regarding the ITTF Calendar, World Championships, and Olympic events”
Khaled El-Salhy, President of the African Table Tennis Federation“Today, we started walking an excellent pathway that will allow us to grow stronger as an organisation. From today, the ITTF is more transparent and more democratic.”
Juan Vila, President of ITTF Americas“I would like to thank personally ITTF President Ms Petra Sörling for such a trust to Continental Presidents. For us, it’s a great respect and a unique possibility to speak directly with Member Associations. It’s sad that we didn’t have such an instrument before, but it is a very good start of her tenure as President.”
Igor Levitin, President of the European Table Tennis Union