ITTF Development Report Magazine 1999-2005

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Petr Korbel

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Zhang Yining

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CONTENTS04 Messages 05 Goals06 Overview, Facts & Figures08 The Concept09 Pyramid

CONTINENTS10 Africa22 Asia30 Europe34 Latin America44 North America46 Oceania

SPECIAL PROJECTS57 Ishraq60 Afghanistan62 Tsunami Rebuilding65 Women’s Development72 International Paralympic

Table Tennis Committee74 ITTF Level One Coaching

Manual & ITTF Coach Accreditation

75 ITTF Films

REFLECTIONS77 The Tamasu Legacy

A Family Company78 An Idyllic Job Or Not?

Editor: Ian Marshall

Research by: Glenn Tepper

Designed by: Ian Marshall

ContributorsBranka Batinic, Steve Dainton, Lilamani de Soysa, RichardMcAfee, Pere Miro, Zita Pidl, Adham Sharara, Polona CehovinSusin, Glenn Tepper, Kerri Tepper, Sachiko Yokota-Heyerdahl

PhotographersAfghanistan TTA, Carlos Alonzo, Angola TTA, Afshin Badiee,All Nepal TTA, Bangladesh TTF, Benin TTF, Jan Berner, BhutanTTF, Botswana TTA, Raul Calin, Costa Rica TTF, CameroonTTF, Choo Wei Khiang, Congo TTF, Congo D.R. TTF, Lilamanide Soysa, Djibouti TTA, Mariann Domonkos, Ivo Drinovec,Egypt TTA, El Salvador TTF, Rémy Gros, Guinea TTF,International Olympic Committee, IPTTC, Graeme Ireland,Ivory Coast TTF, Jordan TTF, Kiribati TTA, Jarek Kolodziejczyk,Eric Lalmand, Lesotho TTF Libya TTF, Monthly World TableTennis, Norwegian TTA, Pakistan TTF, Palau TTA, PalestineTTA, Peru TTF, Zita Pidl, Stephan Roscher, Samoa TTA, GuidoSchiefer, Senegal TTF, St Vincent & The Grenadines TTA,Solomon Islands TTA, Stag, Ivan Storti, Polona Cehovin Susin,Syria TTF, Tahiti TTF, Tamasu Butterfly, Togo TTF, TTA Malawi,TTA Malaysia, TTF Guatemala, TTF IR Iran, TTF Kosovo, TTFKyrgyz Republic, TTF Uzbekistan, Thailand TTA, Glenn Tepper,Uruguay TTF, Vanuatu TTA, www.alltt.com, Yemen TTA

Proof ReadersJanette Cooper, Chuck Hoey

Printed by The Minsun Company, No: 2577, Longhua Rd,Shanghai, 200232 P.R.China E-mail: [email protected]

2006 Development Program 3

THE ITTF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMBreaking Down Barriers With Table Tennis Balls

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It is my great pleasure to contribute a few wordsto this important ITTF Development publication.

The collaboration between Olympic Solidarityand the ITTF dates back to 1987 but was truly con-solidated with the introduction of the ITTFDevelopment Programme in 1999. With very simi-lar objectives, in particular, the training of athletesand coaches, the ITTF Development Programmeand Olympic Solidarity have been working hand inhand over the past 20 years to encourage anddevelop the practice of the sport of table tennisthroughout the world.

Many activities have been organised duringthis period including assistance for the educationand training of budding table tennis coaches,funding for the implementation of talent identifi-cation projects, Olympic scholarships for high levelathletes endeavouring to train and qualify to par-ticipate in the Olympic Games and many more.

Thanks to the close collaboration which hasbeen established between Olympic Solidarity andthe ITTF the funding which has been made avail-able for all these important actions either throughthe National Olympic Committees (OlympicSolidarity) or directly to National Table TennisAssociations (the ITTF), has been properly coordi-nated and used for maximum benefit to coach andathlete development.

I would like to take this opportunity first of allto congratulate the ITTF and its developmentdepartment for the extraordinary efforts deployedover the years for the development and promotionof the sport of table tennis.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the ITTFDevelopment department for its valuable andmuch appreciated contribution to the success ofthe table tennis projects proposed by the NationalOlympic Committees through the OlympicSolidarity programmes. I look forward to our con-tinued, fruitful collaboration throughout this new,exciting quadrennial plan 2005-2008.

MESSAGES

The vision of having our sport played in every country in theWorld is not too far away. This was only possible through amajor shift in the ITTF’s priorities and a serious investment inDevelopment.

The ITTF's Development Program saw the light with a pilotproject in Oceania proposed by Glenn Tepper and the OceaniaTTA. This embryo developed into a basic Development `menu’,conceived by Jordi Serra and myself with the input of GeorgeSegun and Chérif Hajem, which was offered to the African TTFand readily accepted. This was the basis of the DevelopmentAgreements of Understanding and the Development Policy inits early stages. We have come a long way since then.

Over the last six years, one step at a time, all continentsjoined the ITTF’s Development Program; Development Officerswere hired and put to work to service and coordinate the pro-gramme; equipment has been distributed to all corners of theWorld; coaching courses given; umpires and referees coursesdelivered; junior training camps staged and development assis-tance for those in need provided. With these activities andnew initiatives, such as the Women’s Programme and OlympicSolidarity junior assistance, the ITTF’s financial commitment toits development programme has also grown from an insignifi-cant amount six years ago to a major budget and expense lineitem now.

Some ask me why do we send our experts to some remoteareas where table tennis is barely alive. Some ask what is thebenefit of having kids play on broken makeshift tables inopen parks. Some even question the soundness of investing indevelopment activities. The answer is simple. Table tennis mustbe played in every country in the World. Our sport must bealive everywhere. That is the vision.

The ITTF now boasts two hundred member national associ-ations. This growth is due in great part to the developmentprogramme and the seeds that are sewn each time an expertvisits, or a camp is held, or an initiative is implemented. But Imust say that for me, the most rewarding feeling and theannouncement that justified all the hard work, is theInternational Olympic Committee's Report stating that TableTennis was the sport with the second most Olympic Solidaritycourses delivered in the past quadrennial. Bravo ITTF! BravoGlenn Tepper and all your team.


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Pere MiroDirector, Olympic Solidarity

Adham ShararaITTF President

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Expanding the ITTF Development Program fromfour to five courses per year worldwide prior to1999, to providing approximately one hundredcourses annually, with equipment assistance tothirty countries each year, across all six conti-nents, has been an exciting process.

As the first Continental Development Officeron a pilot project in Oceania in 1999, a greatdeal has been learnt on the journey to where weare now.

The ITTF Development Program is now activein every continent and has a base of CoachEducation, Training Camps, Equipment Assistanceand Women's Courses aiming at leaving the max-imum possible legacy by using multi-skilledDevelopment Officers and Course Conductors.

As a Physical Education Teacher in an àlter-native’ high school for problem children inAustralia in the 1980s, I saw the great benefitsport had on changing people’s lives. In this con-text, the ITTF is now embarking on many human-itarian projects under the banner `BreakingDown Barriers with Table Tennis Balls’ including`Tsunami Rebuilding’, Àfghanistan Project’ andÌshraq-safe places for girls to learn, play andgrow’ in rural Egypt, which aims not only to pop-ularise table tennis but to make a difference tothe lives of the participants. The addition of theITTF Global Junior Program has provided anotherstepping stone in the ITTF DevelopmentalPyramid, with close links established with theITTF Development Program.

The introduction of the ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual, available in English, Frenchand Spanish and the ITTF Coach AccreditationSystem has had a big impact on Coach Education,particularly in countries without an existing struc-ture. With each year there is a new step forward.

ITTF will open two World Academies in thenear future, which will be another step forwardin the development of table tennis worldwide.

Aims......To provide the skills and pathways for all continental, regional and nationalmember associations, to satisfy their own development needs.

......To impart, through educational strategies, the required knowledge to devel-oping associations in order to ensure the long-term sustainable development ofour sport.

......To assist in achieving worldwide mass participation.

......To improve the technical level of our athletes, coaches and match officials.

......To improve the quality of human resources needed to better market,administer and showcase table tennis.

......To provide multi-skilled Continental Development Officers in the developingregions to facilitate co-ordination of all aspects of development.

......To actively educate member associations on, and create links with, theIOC's Olympic Solidarity Program, to further assist Continental Federations andNational Associations in their own Development Programs.

......To increase the participation of women at all levels and to improve thetechnical level of women competitors.

......To provide the youth with a structured pathway for development throughto Olympic level.

......To provide equipment to developing associations and to organisers of majorevents in developing associations.

Vision......The ITTF is constantly striving to provide more sequential developmentpathways to progress our sport.

......The ITTF has established, in co-operation with the Continental Federations,the concept of Development Officers to ensure pathways exist for the continu-ity and stability of development efforts of the ITTF around the world.

......Continents are moving towards achieving equality in the areas of athletes,coaching and official development as well as in their organisational and com-petitive structures.

......Women are on their way to achieving parity with their male counterparts inas far as training and competition opportunities are concerned, as well as occu-pying major administrative and coaching positions within their associations andthe various international table tennis structures.

......Table tennis is played worldwide with a steady increase in numbers.

StaffJordi SerraITTF Executive Director, responsible for development 1999-2000

Glenn TepperOceania Development Officer, 1999-2001 & ITTF Development Manager 2001 onwards

Babatunde ObisanayaAfrica Development Officer, 2001-2002

Evelio AlvarezLatin America Development Officer, 2002 onwards

Zita PidlEurope Development Officer 2002 onwards

Roman PleseITTF Development Officer, 2003-2004

Steve DaintonOceania Development Officer-2003-2005

Surendra SuwalOceania Development Officer-2006 onwards

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Glenn TepperITTF Development Manager

GOALS

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OVERVIEWThe ITTF Development Program commenced in 1999 with a pilot proj-ect in Oceania.

The program quickly expanded and by 2002 all continents had a negotiat-ed Àgreement of Understanding’ with the ITTF. The agreements included theappointment of Continental Development Officers, Coach Education, TrainingCamps and Equipment Assistance as the base whilst also aiming at leaving alasting legacy. Following the introduction of the ITTF Global Junior Programcloser links between these two programs have and are being progressivelyestablished.

The ITTF Development Program has five staff members: the ITTFDevelopment Manager, Glenn Tepper, who co-ordinates all aspects of the ITTFDevelopment Program, liasing with the Global Junior Program and conductingsome courses plus Continental Development Officers for Asia, Europe, LatinAmerica and Oceania.

Continental Development Officers co-ordinate the Continental Programs inconjunction with the ITTF Development Manager, whilst also conducting cours-es; approximately fifty part-time coaches are used annually in addition to thefive full-time staff.”.

Agreements now follow the Olympic cycle; the previous Àgreement’ hav-ing been for 2004-2005 when the ITTF conducted almost one hundred coursesand provided equipment assistance to over thirty countries worldwide annual-ly.

ITTF MembershipThe ITTF Development Program has been the main source of new ITTF mem-berships, by providing a course, assisting with setting up the NationalFederation and completing all requirements of membership.

New members since 1999 include:Africa: Central Africa, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, DjiboutiAsia: East Timor, AfghanistanEurope: Andorra, Monaco, Kosovo, MontenegroLatin America: Haiti, St Kitts & Nevis Oceania: Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands,Marshall Islands

ITTF membership now numbers two hundred and two with Myanmarbeing the most recent addition, they joined in 2006.

HumanitarianIn addition to promoting table tennis the ITTF has been able to expand intohumanitarian projects with the banner `Breaking Down Barriers with TableTennis Balls’.

In war torn countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, East Timor,Rwanda, Somalia and the Solomon Islands, the ITTF Development Program hasprovided opportunities that otherwise would not have existed. Similarly moreopportunities for women to play table tennis have been created by the ÌshraqProgram’ whilst the `Tsunami Rebuilding Program’ offered a comprehensivepackage of courses, equipment assistance and building with a special ÌTTFSolidarity Fund’ being established to guarantee a minimum amount of fundingfor similar projects in the future.

GoalThe aim of the ITTF Development Program is to provide the continental andnational table tennis associations with the skills to develop our sport in theirown territory in a sustainable, structured, progressive and professional manner.

The ITTF also provides resources to developing nations and regions in theform of Development Officers and equipment assistance. The aim is to give allnations the opportunity to progress to the highest possible levels by linkingITTF Programs at international, continental and national level with OlympicSolidarity, Continental and National Olympic Committees, and governmentdepartments for the common goal of increasing mass participation and provid-ing pathways to Olympic Games level.

ITTF DevelopmentProgram 1999-2005

Continental Agreements: ......1999: Oceania......2000: Africa, Oceania......2001: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America,Oceania......2002-2003: Africa, Asia, Europe, LatinAmerica, North America, Oceania......2004-2005: Africa, Asia, Europe, LatinAmerica, North America, Oceania......2006-2008: Africa, Asia, Europe, LatinAmerica, North America, Oceania......2009-2012: Next agreement

Full-Time StaffCurrently there are five full time members ofstaff

Glenn Tepper (AUS)ITTF Development ManagerAfshin Badiee (IRI)Asia Development OfficerZita Pidl (HUN) Europe Development OfficerEvelio Alvarez (CUB)Latin America Development OfficerSteve Dainton (AUS) Oceania Development Officer

Note: From 2006 Surendra Suwal (NEP) is theOceania Development Officer. Steve Daintonnow works for the ITTF and TMS Internationalbeing the Director of the ITTF Asia Office inShanghai.

Record YearMore than five hundred courses have beenstaged worldwide and 2005 was a recordyear. One hundred ITTF Development ProgramCourses were conducted, using fifty differentcourse conductors.

DonationsMore than three hundred and twenty equip-ment assistance donations

Roll of Honour1. Roman Plese (HRV).................... 64 courses2. Glenn Tepper (AUS)................... 44 courses3. Evelio Alvarez (CUB).................. 42 courses4. Steve Dainton (AUS).................. 41 courses5. Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)............ 26 courses6. Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)............ 17 courses7. Mikael Andersson (SWE)........... 15 courses8. Marles Martins (BRA)................. 13 courses9. Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY).............. 11 courses9. Jan Berner (SWE)....................... 11 courses9. Hubert Hustache (FRA)............. 11 courses

FACTS & FIGURES

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Glenn Tepper, the mastermindbehind the ITTF DevelopmentProgram, in Egypt in 2003 withvillage leaders who gave theirsupport to the Ishraq Programme


PHOTO BY EGYPT TTA

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THE CONCEPTOceania Table Tennis Federation Development Plan (1996-2000)

Aims: To provide a structure to enable allpeople in table tennis in the Oceania Regionto realise their full potential, to raise the pro-file and extend the membership of table ten-nis within the Oceania Region.

Philosophy: To create, promote and publicisea co-ordinated programme of International

Competitions in the Oceania Region andencourage member associations to participatein World Title events & World Championships.

Plan: 1996 to 2000 calendar to include allmember associations’ open championshipsand schools championships......To include also the South Pacific Games,

international events, Asian Championships,Olympic Games, World Championships,Oceania Championships 1998-2000,Micronesia Games (Guam 1999), FederatedStates of Micronesia Games, World Titleevents, Global Youth Championships,Qualifying tournaments for Olympic andWorld Title events

INTRODUCTION

Objective: To create an integrated coachingstructure that incorporates coach educationand player development at club, national andinternational levels, providing resources forcoach education and creating a nucleus oftutors who can provide coach education.

Plan: All coach education should have asports science input.......Three levels of coaching awards to be cre-ated. Level One: Club Coaching, Teachers,Parents. Level Two: National Coaches LevelThree: International Coaches.......Develop an accreditation system, pub-

lished annually.......Newsletter every six months for goodinformation flow.......Formal meetings of coaches atInternational events.......Coaches educated on how to organisecourses effectively.......Olympic Solidarity Courses,......Development Officer Visits and OceaniaChampionships used for the purpose of coacheducation.......Educate Physical Education teachers.......Develop junior squads of players at club,regional and national level.

......Annual one week Oceania Training Camporganised ideally in conjunction with OceaniaChampionships.......Member associations to be invited toAustralian and New Zealand Elite Squads andJunior Training Camps......Olympic Solidarity Courses for the trainingof tutors.......Development Officer to visit eachAssociation annually.......Director of Coaching for each memberassociation.......An overall Director of Coaching to beappointed for Oceania.

COACHING

Objective: To identify administration as thefoundation upon which all objectives will ulti-mately rest and to develop an administratordevelopment plan which will incorporate atraining programme to provide officials with

both the vision and management skillsrequired to maintain an administrative struc-ture that meets the needs of Oceania.

Plan: Continually review the rules and consti-

tution so that development plans and admin-istration progresses.......Analyse administrator programmes inAustralia and New Zealand in order to devel-op a co-ordinated approach.

ADMINISTRATION

Objective: To maximise and encourage pro-motional opportunities whether internally orexternally generated.Plan: Promote further with squads of top

players in member associations who have adevelopment infrastructure.......Encourage teams visiting from outside theregion to compare against as many member

associations as possible.......To encourage girls and raise the standardby organising an Oceania Girls Camp in liai-son with the ITTF.

PROMOTION

The ITTF Development Program was inspired by the Oceania TableTennis Federation Development Plan (1996-2000), a programme forcompetitions, schools and coaching designed by Glenn Tepper who, atthe time, was the National Coaching Director for Table Tennis Australia& Development Officer for the Oceania Table Tennis Federation)

Objective: To ensure that adequate standardsof equipment are available in each of themember associations.

Plan: Check current supply in each Oceania

member association.......Seek assistance for supply of tables fromITTF.......In countries where equipment is not read-ily available contact manufacturers or agents

in adjacent countries.......Establish contacts in all Oceania memberassociations so that items of equipment canbe purchased either ex-stock or alternativelyby mail order.

EQUIPMENT

Objective: To create an integrated umpiringstructure that incorporates the following:aspects: umpire education, participation anddevelopment at club, national and interna-tional levels.

Plan: Two levels of umpires.......Oceania Umpire (OTTF): all member asso-ciations to host course every year.......International Umpire (ITTF): trained atOceania Courses.

......All umpire training to have ITTF approval.

......Each member association to elect anUmpire Convener.......Develop an accreditation base for allumpires.

UMPIRING

Objective: To create an integrated schoolspolicy incorporating regional competitions,skills training and general promotion.

Plan: To devise a strategy and programme todevelop school based table tennis;

......To popularise table tennis

......To create a policy that is compatible withthe diverse school systems and cultures withinthe Oceania Federation......To host seminars at OceaniaChampionships

......To organise visits and promote OlympicSolidarity Courses......To organise an Oceania SchoolsChampionships......To encourage teachers and personnel todevelop these schemes.

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008

WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007

WORLD TEAMCHAMPIONSHIPS

2006

ITTF PRO TOUR

WORLD JUNIORCHAMPIONSHIPS

WORLD JUNIORCIRCUIT

WORLD CADETCHALLENGE

WORLD UNIVERSITYCHAMPIONSHIPS

WORLD SCHOOLSCHAMPIONSHIPS

CONTINENTAL &REGIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONALCHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONAL LEAGUES

CLUB COMPETITIONS

SCHOOLSCOMPETITIONS

LEVEL THREEHigh

Performance Coaching

Courses

International Training Centres

Coaching Scholarships

Sports ScienceSports Specific

LEVEL TWOHigh Performance Coaching Courses

Olympic SolidarityRegional Courses

Youth Development Program

Training for Elite YouthInternational Training CentreInternational Training Camps

ITTF Junior ProgramWorld Junior Championships

ITTF World Junior Circuit World Cadet Challenge

High Performance / Matching Stars

LEVEL ONEContinental Development Officers

ITTF Development ProjectsCoach Education / Training Camps / Development Plans

Equipment Assistance to Developing NationsOlympic Solidarity

National Technical Courses / Youth Development ProgramsTalent Identification

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International Umpire/RefereeCoursesCourse Conductor Training

National Umpire/Referee CoursesCourse Conductor Training

Referee Apprenticeship Program

MediaApprenticeship Program

Local Umpire/RefereeCourses

Adm

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COMPETITION STRUCTURE

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OFFICIALSThe International Table Tennis FederationDevelopment Program2004-2005

ITTF P4 PLAN1. POPULARITY2. PARTICIPATION3. PROFIT4. PLANNING

ITTF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMISSION STATEMENT

“The ITTF actively promotestable tennis worldwide by creating a structured, sequential and progressivepyramid development structure for athletes, coaches,administrators and match offi-cials from beginner level toOlympic Games.”


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AFRICA

The African Development Program conducts

more Coach Education Courses, provides more

equipment assistance and has the highest

completion rate of all continents.

Reem El-Shoubary of Egypt,ITTF Scholarship holder

PHOTO BY CARLOS ALONZO

“No African Association can say they have not received an ITTF/ATTFCourse or Equipment Assistance between 2000 and 2006”

Chérif Hajem (ITTF Continental Vice President Africa)

PHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

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if completed, will have accommodation forforty players and ten coaches; it will havesufficient space to host competitions usingten tables, whilst also having changingrooms, a canteen, a library, a fitness areaand even a shop from which sports equip-ment can be purchased.

The problem is one of cost and in thecurrent economic climate fulfilling the taskmay be a problem; however, as they say"Where there's a will there's a way".

So perhaps with everyone's co-operationthe difficulties which face Angola can beovercome and those players who showed somuch promise on the course will have theopportunity to realise their potential

BeninMiguel Vicens conducted a ten day coachingcourse in Cotonu, Benin from 18-28 July2000.

The course covered a wide range of top-ics and involved both practical and theorywork for the twenty members present.

A shortage of equipment: tables, balls,rackets, clothing for table tennis was themain problem. Importing goods is expensiveand thus the development and expansion ofthe sport was somewhat limited.

Five years later, Togo coach, KakaLawson spent two months in Benin leadingan Olympic Solidarity Course `Developing aNational Sports Structure'.

The Benin TTF, Benin NOC, ITTF andKaka Lawson had all been liaising for manymonths in preparation to ensure the maxi-mum possible legacy for Benin. The principalaim was to spread table tennis beyond thecapital, with courses being held in Bohiconand Parakou.

Physical Education teachers were target-ed in these areas and comprised eighty percent of the participants; thus they could helpbuild a strong base for future developmentin the schools.

Fun introductory games, stroke develop-ment, and organising a tournament for max-imum participation were some of the areascovered on the ITTF Level One CoachingCourse.

AfricaA donation of two thousand table tennisrackets was made by the ITTF to the AfricanTable Tennis Federation at the Dawei 45thWorld Championships in Eindhoven.

The African Table Tennis Federation dis-tributed the rackets to the associations of:Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Madagascar,Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, Algeria, Libya,Morocco, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo,Namibia, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Ghana,Togo and Sudan.

Meanwhile, in 2005, Africa completedall the ITTF Development Courses with threemonths to spare. A continent which hasmajor obstacles to overcome, particularlyregarding communications, clearly benefitedfrom early planning, patience and a greatdeal of hard work.

Africa was also the first continent tofinalise their 2006-2008 ContinentalDevelopment Agreement with the ITTF, withCherif Hajem, President of the African TableTennis Federation, maintaining an open andfair distribution of courses and equipmentassistance across the English, French, Arabicand Portugese speaking member countries.

In 2005 Africa showed some of themore developed continents what can beachieved.

Angola

Abilio Cruz conducted a successful coursefor both players and coaches in Luanda, thecapital of Angola, from 31st July to 8thAugust 2005.

The course was part of the ITTFDevelopment Program and Abilio Cruz wasmost impressed with the enthusiastic atti-tude of the participants. Undoubtedly thecountry has players who, given the opportu-nity, have the potential to compete on theinternational stage.

The Angolan Table Tennis Federation,working in liaison with the government,Olympic Solidarity and the International TableTennis Federation aims to complete the refur-bishment of a gymnasium in Luanda that canact as a National Training Centre. The venue,

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Kaka Lawson leads a theory session in Benin

BotswanaIn 2001, Botswana under the enthusiasticleadership of the table tennis association’spresident, Monthusi Dithole, showed devel-oping countries what could be achievedwith enthusiasm, hard work and a littleguidance.

Botswana, South Africa, Angola,Lesotho and Namibia participated in teamand individual events from 13th to 17thJuly 2001 with four of the five remainingcountries in the region indicating interestto participate in the future.

South Africa scooped the pool but thespirit of co-operation and sportsmanshipensured a very positive experience for all.

Under the ITTF Development Program,Botswana has received equipment assis-tance and in 2001 an ITTF DevelopmentProgram Course was led by Glenn Tepper.

Over sixty participants attended thecourse which comprised teachers, nationalteam members plus sport and recreationdevelopment officers from all regions ofBotswana. In addition a major schools’tournament and national team trainingsessions were held.

An attentive group in Angola

Botswana in 2001

Three years later Roman Plese conducted acourse in Gaboronne, the capital, from31st July to 7th August 2004.

Forty-four coaches and four playersattended with Botswana recently havingreceived a shipment of table tennis tables.

The result was that enthusiasm for thesport of table tennis was very high and thenew equipment was most certainly wel-comed by the eager members of thecourse, who were very keen to put theoryinto practice.

Botswana in 2004

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Africa AngolaBenin Botswana

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AFRICA Cameroon CongoDjibouti Ethiopia

CameroonIn 2005 Manasse Batix of France visitedCameroon to conduct an OlympicSolidarity Course; as always in Africa thecourse was well received by an enthusiasticgroup of students.

CongoPhusit Mudta-ngam of Thailand conducteda coaching course in Brazzaville in 2002where he met the irrepressible HenriDjombo.

President of the Table Tennis Federationof Congo and President of the CentralAfrican Table Tennis Federation, HenriDjombo has six tables in his home onwhich he encourages children to play everyday and in 2002 his efforts were bearingfruit. Two of his players, Chris Nzoli andSteve Yogo, both ten years old at thetime, won silver and bronze medals respec-tively in the Cadet Boys' Singles event atthe 7th Central African Championshipsand went one better in the Cadet Boys’Doubles by claiming gold.

Meanwhile, Congo was very fortunateto have the French legend Jacques Secretinlead their Coach Education Course inBrazzaville in 2005 prior to the AfricanClub Championships and Africa SinglesCup for which the ITTF provided the equip-ment.

DjiboutiDjibouti joined the ranks of the ITTF soonafter completeing its first ever ITTFDevelopment Program course in February2005.

The major reason why the CoachEducation and Junior Training course wentahead, before membership had been rati-fied at the Annual General Meeting inApril 2005 in Shanghai, was due to theboundless enthusiasm of the Djibouti TableTennis Association’s Vice President, FarahHassan. He is the man behind the upsurgein interest in table tennis in Djibouti and hehas gained the confidence of the sport’sinternational community.

He was in almost daily contact with theITTF in the preceding months to ensure thesuccess of the course which was led byBatix Manasse, formerly of Cameroon andan experienced player and coach in France.

Twenty-seven coaches attended withcoach education taking place from 07.30to 13.00; each day training for playersaged twelve to fourteen was held from17.00 to 19.00.

At the end of the course, certificateswere distributed accordingly to the coursemembers in the presence of GeneralDirector and Advisors of the Ministry ofSports, the President of CNO, a French Co-operation Mission representative, a repre-sentative from the Ministry of Educationand the heads of High Schools and othernational government officials.

The course proved an outstanding suc-cess and for Farah Hassan, he was able tolook back with pride at a programme thatset new standards in Djibouti.

EthiopiaScotland’s David Fairholm conducted anOlympic Solidarity Course at the NationalSports Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in2003. Thirty-one potential coaches attend-ed the ten day course.

Meanwhile in May 2005 Sweden’s JanBerner was the coach on duty in Ethiopialeading a week long course funded by theITTF through the ITTF/ATTF DevelopmentProgramme.

The first item on the agenda for themuch travelled coach after arriving in theEthiopian capital, Addis Ababa, was agood night’s sleep; that duly accomplished,the course started in earnest the followingday with twenty-three coaches fromthroughout the country present, thanks tothe efforts of course co-ordinator,Haileeyesus Asfaw.

Practical sessions were held each dayfrom 09.30 to 12.00 with theory sessionsbeing conducted from 14.00 to 16.30. The

main aim of the course was to concentrateon technical skills and practices that can beused to help perfect those skills. Also, theimportance of physical fitness was dis-cussed but it became quite clear to JanBerner that in this aspect of sport theEthiopians excelled. They would happilyplay table tennis from dawn to dusk with-out ever complaining of fatigue.

Furthermore, Jan Berner was impressedwith the standard of play that he wit-nessed. “Many play quite well, they wonbronze medals at the AfricanChampionships in Mauritius last yearwhich underlines their potential”, he said.

Jan Berner believes there are some twohundred players in the country who playquite proficiently but progress is hamperedby the poor quality of the rackets they use.“I knew this would be the case from previ-ous courses I've run”, said Berner. In thepast Jan-Ove Waldner, Jörgen Persson andPeter Karlsson have been very generous bydonating bat rubber to young African play-ers and following their example the newEuropean champions, Denmark, gave himbat rubbers they had used in Shanghai.

“Also, Matilda Ekholm of Sweden hasbeen very generous, as have theNorwegian junior boys Eric Berner, MartinRoste and Kristoffer Hellerud who gaverubbers”, continued Berner. “Last but byno means least Stiga helped enormously,they gave thirty blades to Ethiopia; mythanks on behalf of all the African coachesand players for their generosity.”

The problem has also been recognisedby the ITTF with a package of six tables, sixnets and scorers plus eighty rackets andeight gross of balls, all provided by Stag,being sent to Ethiopia.

In addition to educating the coachesJan Berner spent time with the Ethiopiannational team and found them veryresponsive to his efforts, all the playersclearly enjoying playing table tennis.

“Happiness and enthusiasm were thekey words”, said Berner. “They have a

The group in Cameroon 2005

The irrepresible Henri Djombo

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great deal to learn but everyone was openminded and willing to consider newideas.”

It was a rewarding nine days for JanBerner who had also been given theopportunity by his hosts to see everydaylife in Addis Ababa whilst enjoying eatingat local restaurants plus being entertainedby traditional African dancers and thenational music star Teddy Afro.

A splendid spirit in Ethiopia and onethat made Jan Berner's stay most enjoy-able; let’s hope that soon we see themcompeting more on the internationalscene.

GuineaA one week coaching seminar inNovember 2004 was attended by somethirty coaches, players and sport teachers,coming not only from Conakry where thecourse was staged but also from the wholecountry; in fact, there was even one coachfrom Ghana!

Two sessions were organised each daywith the morning being devoted to helpingthe very eager course participants enhancetheir knowledge whilst in the afternoonSylvain Chermette often met with officialsfrom the Government, the Guinea TableTennis Federation and the `Comité NationalOlympique et Sportif'. The result was thathe was able to establish close co-operation

between all concerned and the sport cannow look forward to being promoted in apositive fashion in the country.

In 2007 they will host the AfricanJunior Championships and this will be a bigstep forward. “One of the biggest prob-lems facing Guinea Conakry is the lack ofequipment, with most players unable toafford equipment” said Sylvain Chermette.

Therefore, realising the problem,Sylvain brought with him rubbers,racketsand balls donated by the French TableTennis Federation which were much appre-ciated, whilst the ITTF provided a largepackage of six tables, nets, scorers, eightyrackets and eight gross of balls.

Ivory CoastJan Berner arrived at Abidjan airport, IvoryCoast, in the evening of 25th August2003; he had no idea what to expect, hedidn’t know the country nor the expertiseof the table tennis players.

At the airport he was greeted by theVIP’s of local table tennis; he started tospeak in English but was soon met withthe request “en français s’il vous plaît”; sothe French he had learned in school camein useful and using arms and legs as visualaids made himself understood.

The first day was a visit to Abidjan citywhere everywhere he heard the word`Toubabo’; not understanding the expres-sion, he asked the meaning; white mancame the reply so henceforth he was`Toubabo’.

Abidjan has grown tenfold in the lastdecade with a population of almost six mil-lion; after darkness there is relatively strictmilitary control. Jan and his colleagueswere stopped several times for identitychecks, with the military police often ask-

ing for a small amount of money to buysome beer. A request that met with a firmresponse from Jan Berner: “No way!”

Organisation was the first priority;there were twenty players, four tables andfifteen enthusiastic coaches. The playinglevel was encouraging, especially amongstthe youngest participants. “It was a goldmine for a table tennis coach,” said Jan.“They asked me if I could take four ofthem back to Sweden; an interesting ideabut I'm not so sure if they will be happy inour cold Scandinavian climate.”

Technically the backhand and forehandstrokes were quite promising but theknowledge of tactics, placement, spin andspeed were lacking. Furthermore, theunderstanding of receiving service wasweak; as Jan explained: “Even my old serv-ices from early 1980s were very successfulhere, the reverse serve was totally new butthey quickly learnt the techniques neces-sary and the younger players were soonvery adept'.

The youngest participants were alwayspresent; when they were not playing theywere climbing trees, running, walking ontheir hands, playing soccer, always busy.`Maybe European youngsters should copythem and not sit in front of a computer allthe day', added Jan.

One afternoon Jan showed them avideo of the classic men’s match from theWorld Championships in Malaysia, Swedenversus China. About fifty people watchedand all were very enthusiastic; theydanced, screamed, laughed and generallyhad a really good time. They had neverseen table tennis like it.

After eight days he had to leave hisnew African friends; they had learned fromhis visit and he didn’t leave empty handed;he had a new name `Toubabo’.Sylvain Chermette with young Guinea players

Jan Berner with his new found friends in the Ivory Coast

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AFRICA LesothoLibya

LesothoA well organised training hall but with littleequipment was the sight welcoming SouthAfrican coach Anver Lyners on his arrivalMaseru, Lesotho in late September 2002

There were no table tennis surrounds,the windows were blackened out withrefuse bags but there was a buzz of enthu-siasm amongst the boys and girls in theRoman Catholic Church hall.

Seventy pupils and eight coaches fromthe six districts of Lesotho (North, West,South East, Central and South West) werepresent, all eager to advance their tabletennis skills and knowledge.

Table tennis is played in school class-rooms with a minimum of funds, hardlyany balls and only a few rackets. It is quiteincredible that the youngsters can play sowell. Undoubtedly, the potential exists fortable tennis to progress and become amajor sport in Lesotho; a goal has beenmade possible through the hard work ofChabeli Mohatlane and his team of playersand coaches.

Chabeli Mohotlane is a qualifiedorthopaedic surgeon who works withphysically disabled table tennis players andhas been instrumental in spreading thegame and educating sporting officials intable tennis. He is the President of theLesotho Table Tennis Association and neverlets an opportunity to develop table tennisescape his grasp. Chabeli's enthusiasm wasfired in 2000 when he was invited toattend an Olympic Solidarity Course inJohannesburg, South Africa; since thattime he has attend a three month Olympic

Solidarity Coaching Scholarship Course inHungary and has been unstinting in hisefforts to promote table tennis in thecountry surrounded on all sides by SouthAfrica.

Lesotho played in the CommonwealthGames in Manchester in 2002 and a pro-gramme `Smashing AIDS Out’ has beendesigned and aimed at encouraging youngpeople to play table tennis. The pro-gramme endeavours to create an aware-ness of HIV/AIDS through table tenniswhilst also unifying the Basotho nation.

Lesotho may not be world championsbut using table tennis as a vehicle for socialchange is most certainly having a positiveeffect and is changing young peoples’ livesfor the better.

The President of the Lesotho NationalOlympic Committee, Mrs MatlohangRamoqopo and the Director of Sport inLesotho, Mrs.Mamotebang Ntokoane allsupport Chabeli Mohatlane in his efforts topromote table tennis.

Furthermore, they welcome the effortsbeing made by the International TableTennis Federation, the African Table TennisFederation and the Lesotho Table TennisAssociation; the result is that close co-operation has been established and tabletennis is being positively promoted in acountry that is devoid of the luxuries ofsports and leisure centres.

Two years after the visit of AnversLyners, Roman Plese led an ITTF/ATTFDevelopment Program Course whicheleven coaches and ten players attendedwith the indefatigable Chabeli Mohatlanebeing the organiser.

LibyaJan Berner concluded a course in Tripoli inMay 2003 attended by ten coaches fromLibya and the country’s best young playersfor a period of three hours per day.

“I had no idea what to expect when Iarrived, Libya isn’t a country that we heartoo much about”, explained Jan Berner.“Tripoli is a fantastic city and is full of sur-prises with Italian fashion boutiques quitecommon.”

Berner was met at the airport by BakirFares, the President of the Libyan TableTennis Federation who with a most enthu-siastic coach Mustafa El-Sagar organised aprogramme that enabled participants toset both short and long term goals.

Mustafa El-Sagar was a player of somenote in his own right. He competed in theWorld Championships in Gothenburg in1985 and most certainly has ambitiousplans for table tennis in Libya in the nearfuture.

A visit to the Libyan OlympicCommittee was also arranged where JanBerner met the physiologist who hencefor-ward will be supervising the testing ofplayers whilst also designing individual pro-grammes.

All ten coaches emerged successfulfrom the course and now have the task ofpromoting the sport in a country that hasthree hundred players of whom only five aregirls.

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Anvers Lyners coaching in Lesotho in 2002

Ten coaches attended the course in Libya andthe country's best young players trained forthree hours each day

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MalawiUnder the leadership of Florianna Massa,Malawi has made great progress sincebecoming a member of the ITTF in 2003.

The country held Olympic Solidaritycourses in 2002 and 2003 as well as anITTF course and, in September 2005,Malawi embarked on its most ambitiousproject, `Developing a National SportsStructure'. The course started on 1stSeptember and concluded on 31stOctober.

The course was directed by Arif Khan.Three regions were targeted, Mzuzu,Blantyre and Lilongwe with the leadingplayers and coaches from each regiongathering in Lilongwe at the end of thecourse for high performance training ses-sions.

Within each region, courses focusedon leaving the maximum possible legacyand included coach education, a juniortraining camp, umpire training, tourna-ment organisation and preparing a simpledevelopment plan for the future.

A course was held in 2002, to set upthe Malawi Table Tennis Association andassist with ITTF/ATTF membership, had apositive effect. Malawi became so motivat-ed, they decided they would send a groupof juniors to the African JuniorChampionships in South Africa.

The fact that they had no money andwere relative beginners did not troublethem. After several months of fund raisingthey had enough funds for ten juniors tosit on a crowded, run down, public bus forforty hours each way, and to squeeze theirplayers into two rooms in the cheapesthotel.

Such hardships could not be seen atthe tournament as they were clearly thehappiest group there, having photos takenwith Africa Champion, Segun Toriola andenjoying the lessons learnt while beingcomprehensively outclassed.

Solidarity was the major feature oftheir efforts and they collected a medal;bronze in the Under 15 Girls' Singles, anevent with a comparatively low entry interms of numbers but for Malawi it was areward. It gave them great cause for opti-mism and they celebrated by singing mostof the forty hour journey home.

Training in Malawi

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MauritiusJean-Paul Martin of France conducted anOlympic Solidarity course in Mauritius fromSaturday 20 September to Saturday 27September 2003.

Meanwhile, in 2005 Mauritius stagedthe African Senior Championships andlinked to the event was an ITTFDevelopment Program course focusing onCoach Education and Umpire Training.

The coach education began on 10thNovember led by Glenn Tepper with twen-ty-five enthusiastic coaches present; thecourse followed the principles of the ITTFLevel One Coaching Manual with the ITTFUmpires Seminar being taken by Nigeria’sOluranti Lajide, the Referee at the AfricanChampionships, and Bernard Perret ofFrance.

SenegalAfricans teaching Africans has always beenone of the aims of the ITTF DevelopmentProgram; not only to educate their coachesbut to produce quality Course Conductors.Therefore, Africa will become more self-sufficient and achieve improved interna-tional results.

Such was the aim of the OlympicSolidarity Course in Dakar, Senegal inDecember 2005 led by Kaka Lawson.

Senegal Table Tennis FederationPresident Balla Lo, was certainly upbeatafter the course. “The efforts of KakaLawson were appreciated by the partici-pants and by both the Senegal TableTennis Federation and the Senegal NationalOlympic Committee”, he said. “The great-est problem for Senegal table tennis is thelack of coaching at any level; today, we

think and hope that this problem has avery good solution.” The course was a stepin the right direction; a great deal of hardwork lies ahead but those who attended inDecember 2005 were motivated andunderstood the needs of young peoplewhen attending coaching.

Senegal is situated in West Africa.Dakar, the capital, is one of the importantcities in Africa. Table tennis appeared inSenegal in 1946, with French citizens basedin Dakar as a result of colonisation. TheSenegal Table Tennis Federation wasformed in 1968 and the national team hastaken part in world and international com-petitions. Senegal has twice organised theAfrican Championships (1980 and 2003).

Number one player in the country isMohamed Gueye who represented Africain the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.There are a further six to eight players whoare of a good standard but not ofMohamed Gueye’s level and they are in thelatter years of their careers. Therefore, theFederation needs to plan for the future andperform basic work with the young girlsand boys; this is the principal resolution ofthe chairman, Balla Lo.

The National Federation has fourregional leagues, with three hundred andfifty players players but some leagues, likethose in Thies and Kaolack, have problemswith venues and equipment.

However, there is a new dawn inSenegal. The goal is to introduce table ten-nis in all schools and villages and to devel-op table tennis throughout the wholecountry. The ITTF Level One Course inDakar provided a very good opportunity toaddress some of the problems, it provideda foundation, the challenge for Senegal isnow to build on that foundation.

Jacques Secretin, one of France’s most celebrated players with a group of students whoattended the ITTF Development Project Course in Senegal (27th June-4th July 2005)

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AFRICA South Africa

South Africa 2000The South African Table Tennis Board wasworking very hard in 2000 to raise the pro-file of table tennis in the region. HighPerformance Courses had been conductedby Mikael Andersson and Roman Plese,whilst several members attended the ITTFHigh Performance Coaching Course con-ducted by Michel Gadal in Cairo, Egypt.

Leading South African players ShaneOvermeyer and Wynton Muller had attend-ed an Austrian Junior Training Camp inLinz, an opportunity that was greatlyappreciated and had been made possiblefollowing the return of South Africa tointernational sport.

The Olympic Solidarity Course in earlyNovember 2000 comprised a Level Oneand Level Two Coaching Course for twentycoaches held over period of nine days. Inaddition a National Coaching AccreditationScheme was completed with two nationalcoaches and four regional coaches qualify-ing whilst a a national team training campwas organise to help players prepare forthe forthcoming African Championships inAddis Ababa, Ethiopia.

South Africa 2001A beneficiary of ITTF DevelopmentCoaching Projects in August 2001 was theMangaung and Heidetal Community inBloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.

The Mangaung UniversityCommunity Partnership Project (MUCPP)is a joint venture between theMangaung Community and Free StateUniversity, with overseas and local spon-sors, to help promote a positive lifestyle forthe poverty stricken area. The SouthAfrican Table Tennis Board joined thepartnership, agreeing to provideequipment as well as coaching andumpiring courses.

Set in the middle of a shantytown on the outskirts ofBloemfontein, where a large num-ber of the houses are still pieces oftin with no electricity, men in over-alls sit on the side of the road allday hoping to be picked up by aconstruction company for a day’swork that will yield about US$5.00.For the lucky ones this US$5.00 willbe carefully spent to provide severalmeals for their families.

In the midst of this the MUCPPprovides hope for the community.Kagisho Moeca, who providedmuch of the organisation andadministration for the ITTFCourse is a well spoken,extremely positive,

Development Officer with the MUCPP whohas a Sports Management Degree andwould do anything for the children of thearea.

He is paid only `sometimes', whenfunds allow or when there is some fundingfrom overseas. Regional Coach, SamanthaJoseph and her team coach long hourswithout payment, other than the rewardsof seeing children making progress in tabletennis and as people.

A training camp washeld for the elite juniors, whohad progressed from never

winning medals at nationallevel to bringing home

over ten

medals in 2000; the excellent resultsgained, thanks to the hard work of theMUCPP and the coaches.

A Coaching Clinic for young beginnersin the region was also held under thedirection of Glenn Tepper. It was for thecoach a most rewarding experience. Thesmiling faces of the children, their excellentattitude, the spirit of sharing the few wellworn rackets and the appreciation shownmade Glenn feel honoured to be given theopportunity to work in the community.

South Africa 2004Glenn Tepper returned to South Africa inSeptember 2004 to lead a coach educationcourse.

Twenty-four coaches from across thecountry including both beginner coach-

es wanting to complete the ITTFLevel One Coaching Course

and advanced coaches tar-geted as ITTF Level OneCourse Conductors in

South Africa were present.South Africa is always

quick to embrace change and lookfor new ways to move forward.

Undoubtedly, there is progress and theupward trend in the sport has been madepossible largely through the leadership ofSouth African Table Tennis Board President,Ganief Fataar and the Secretary-GeneralHajera Kajee, the latter being the Chef deMission for the South Africa Team at theOlympic Games in 2004.

The progress being made in SouthAfrica was underlined by the reaction

to the newly released ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual. Immediately, they

placed an order for two hundred

Young players in Manguang in 2001

Theo Cogill, ITTF Scholarship holderPHOTO BY GLENN TEPPER

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operating with neighbouring countriessuch as Bénin, Ghana or Burkina Faso.

The result is that close co-operationwith other associations is being establishedand table tennis is being promoted in apositive fashion.

Equipment is a problem for Togo andtherefore in 2004, the ITTF provided anequipment package of six tables, six netsand post sets, six scorers, eighty racketsand eight gross of balls, as well as twentyITTF Level One Coaching Manuals for thecourse.

In addition, Sylvain Chermette broughtrubber, rackets and balls that had beendonated by the French Table TennisFederation to add to the large equipmentpackage donated by the ITTF in 2004.

The course was a success and the pro-gramme was more than just the necessaryrequirement to receive the ITTF `ClubCoach’ certificate. The seminar was theperfect occasion to answer many questionsabout teaching young players who showedpromise and were on the path towardsplaying at a high level.

TogoIn September 2005 as part of the ITTFDevelopment Program, a Coach EducationCourse was held in Lome, Togo, led bySylvain Chermette.

Twenty coaches from throughout thecountry attended and contributed greatlyto an excellent environment. All of thecoaches were very dedicated to table ten-nis in Togo and were extremely interestedin being provided with optimum informa-tion on table tennis to help their youngplayers make better progress. They allwanted table tennis in Togo to become anexample for the West African region.

Togo has been shaken by political andsocial events since the 1990s and morerecently in the spring of 2005.

Undoubtedly, this has caused the fed-eration to suffer difficulties owing to ashortage of equipment. However, the lead-ers of the Togo Table Tennis Federation aremotivated and they are prepared to seizethe initiative by forging links with countriesin both Europe and Asia in addition to co-

Roman Plese led an ITTF Development Project Course in Harare, Zimbabwe in May 2004. Thecourse was organised by the national table tennis union’s president, John Menigani and its gen-eral secretary, Celso Ribeiro. Eighteen players attended.

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Ffurther manuals and wanted to knowwhen the training of course conductorscould commence.

Potential Course Conductors attendedthe ITTF Level One Coaching Course aswell as additional Course Conductor train-ing.

Two coaches, Clement Meyer andAnver Lyners were classified as ITTF LevelOne Course Conductor `International’meaning they can conduct the course any-where, while six coaches were classified asITTF Course Conductors `South Africa’meaning they can conduct the course inSouth Africa, after they have jointly pre-sented a course with the `International’Course Conductors.

The `South Africa’ ITTF Level OneCourse Conductors included thirty-threeper cent women; the successful candidateswere Margie Luckay, Sameera Maal, GregNaik, Nigel Adams, Gerrit Coetzer, andPhaldy Batchelor.

It is a very creditable situation with thepromotion of table tennis for women andgirls being high on the list of priorities forthe ITTF Development Program.

Also, equipment assistance wasrealised. Butterfly donated both develop-ment and elite rackets with coaches beingasked to nominate recipients who wereunder the age of eighteen, talented, hardworking and from a financially disadvan-taged background.

Following the conclusion of the coursea National Junior Training Camp was heldin Cape Town which included past andpresent Africa World Cadet ChallengeTeam members, Theo Cogill, Alicia vanRooyen and Luke Abrahams.

Success at senior level has always beendifficult for South Africa being a long dis-tance from Europe and North Africa whichhave been the strong areas for table tennisover the years.

However, the introduction of the WorldCadet Challenge has helped in the devel-opment of table tennis in South Africawith ITTF Junior Scholarship holder, TheoCogill, being the first South African to par-ticipate in the tournament when he com-peted in 2002.

Luke Abrahams and Alicia Von Rooyenfollowed in 2003, and Alicia together withDarren Rodgers competed in 2004.

The ITTF Development Program and theITTF Global Junior Programme are inextrica-bly linked and South Africa always looks tomaximize the benefits of ITTF fundedcourses.

In 2004 both the Coach Educationcourse and the National Junior Camp pro-vided elite training for the juniors and gavecoaches the education to continue thetraining. Surely, a winning formula.

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ITTF/ATTF Development Program Courses Country Date from Date to Course Expert

Algeria 01 Dec 2004 10 Dec 2004 ITTF Development Project Frederic Lenoir (FRA)

Algeria 18 May 2002 24 May 2002 Olympic Solidarity Albert Ronqui (FRA)

Algeria 22 Jan 2001 31 Jan 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Angola 02 Aug 2005 08 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Angola 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 Olympic Solidarity DNCS Ren Yu Ren (CHN)

Angola 22 Nov 2002 30 Nov 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Angola 01 Aug 2000 08 Aug 2000 Olympic Solidarity Isidro Borges (POR)

Benin 08 Aug 2005 05 Oct 2005 Olympic Solidarity Kaka Lawson (TOG)

Benin 16 Nov 2004 26 Nov 2004 Olympic Solidarity Albert Ronchi (SUI)

Benin 05 Sep 2002 14 Sep 2002 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Benin 03 Jun 2001 12 Jun 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Benin 18 Jul 2000 29 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity Miguel Vicens (FRA)

Botswana 28 Nov 2005 07 Dec 2005 Olympic Solidarity Polona Susin (SVN)

Botswana 30 Jul 2004 08 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Botswana 18 Jul 2001 01 Aug 2001 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Burkina Faso 10 Oct 2003 18 Oct 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Burkina Faso 10 Dec 2001 19 Dec 2001 ITTF Development Project Mohamed Daieb (TUN)

Burundi 10 Dec 2004 20 Dec 2004 ITTF Development Project Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Burundi 10 Sep 2003 18 Sep 2003 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Burundi 21 Oct 2002 30 Oct 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Burundi 16 Mar 2001 29 Mar 2001 ITTF Development Project Khaled Mabrouk (TUN)

Cameroon 21 Jul 2005 01 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Batix Manasse (FRA)

Cameroon 15 Feb 2003 23 Feb 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Cameroon 04 Nov 2001 11 Nov 2001 ITTF Development Project Jacques Secretin (FRA)

Central Africa 15 Dec 2003 22 Dec 2003 Olympic Solidarity Jan Berner (SWE)

Central Africa 07 Jul 2000 16 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity Mohamed Daieb (TUN)

Congo 10 Feb 2006 18 Feb 2006 Olympic Solidarity-ITTF Level 1 Batix Manasse (FRA)

Congo 15 Jan 2005 19 Jan 2005 ITTF Development Project Jacques Secretin (FRA)

Congo 20 Apr 2003 27 Apr 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Congo DR 25 Apr 2005 02 May 2005 ITTF Women's Course Maria Isabel Vera Moyoli Häfeli (SUI)

Congo DR 12 Apr 2003 19 Apr 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Congo DR 01 Jun 2002 30 Sep 2002 Olympic Solidarity DNCS Adeleko Ogunnowo (NIG)

Congo DR 06 Jul 2000 13 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity Andrez Jokubowicz (FRA)

Côte D’Ivoire 25 Aug 2003 01 Sep 2003 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

Côte D’Ivoire 11 Nov 2001 18 Nov 2001 ITTF Development Project Marcel Desjardins (FRA)

Côte D’Ivoire 01 Oct 1999 10 Oct 1999 Olympic Solidarity Yves Regneir (FRA)

Djibouti 10 Feb 2005 17 Feb 2005 ITTF Development Project Batix Manasse (FRA)

Egypt 15 Jul 2004 22 Jul 2004 ITTF Junior Training Camp Nikolai Novikov (RUS)

Egypt 27 Jan 2003 31 Jan 2003 WJC Junior Training Camp Nikolai Novikov (RUS)

Egypt 16 Mar 2003 24 Mar 2003 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Egypt 04 Jun 2001 09 Jun 2001 High Performance Coaching Course Mikael Andersson (SWE)

Ethiopia 12 May 2005 19 May 2005 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

Ethiopia 11 Jan 2003 16 Jan 2003 ITTF Women's Course Åsa Svensson (SWE)

Ethiopia 13 Apr 2003 22 Apr 2003 Olympic Solidarity David Fairholm (ENG)

Ethiopia 08 Nov 2000 15 Nov 2000 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV) Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Ethiopia 23 Sep 1999 08 Oct 1999 Olympic Solidarity Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Gabon 22 Mar 2005 29 Mar 2005 ITTF Development Project Jacques Secretin (FRA)

Gabon 01 Apr 2003 08 Apr 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Gambia 03 Feb 2004 12 Feb 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Gambia 01 Aug 2003 10 Aug 2003 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Ghana 24 Mar 2004 28 Mar 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Ghana 21 Sep 2002 30 Sep 2002 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Ghana 18 Feb 2001 28 Feb 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Ghana 02 Apr 2000 15 Apr 2000 Olympic Solidarity Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Guinea 12 Nov 2004 19 Nov 2004 ITTF Development Project Sylvain Chermette (FRA)

Guinea 15 Oct 2002 23 Oct 2002 Olympic Solidarity Jacques Secretin (FRA)

Kenya 18 Oct 2004 22 Oct 2004 ITTF Women's Course Branka Batinic (HRV)

Kenya 18 Aug 2002 28 Aug 2002 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Kenya 19 May 2001 30 May 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Lesotho 07 Aug 2004 15 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Lesotho 30 Sep 2002 06 Oct 2002 ITTF Development Project Anver Lyners (RSA)

Liberia 11 Jan 2006 18 Jan 2006 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Liberia 17 Feb 2004 26 Feb 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Libya 05 May 2003 13 May 2003 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

Libya 18 Dec 2003 29 Dec 2003 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Libya 15 Oct 2001 28 Oct 2001 ITTF Development Project Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Madagascar 04 Jan 2004 14 Jan 2004 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Madagascar 11 Aug 2003 20 Aug 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Madagascar 05 Nov 2002 10 Nov 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)


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ITTF/ATTF Development Program Courses Country Date from Date to Course Expert

Madagascar 02 Dec 2001 13 Dec 2001 ITTF Development Project Carole Seve (FRA)

Madagascar 16 May 1999 21 May 1999 Olympic Solidarity Phillipe Kermarrec (FRA)

Malawi 01 Sep 2005 31 Oct 2005 Olympic Solidarity Arif Khan (PAK)

Malawi 17 Jul 2003 24 Jul 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Malawi 07 Nov 2003 16 Nov 2003 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Malawi 07 Aug 2002 16 Aug 2002 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Mauritania 26 Jun 2002 03 Jul 2002 Olympic Solidarity Mohamed Daieb (TUN)

Mauritania 10 Oct 2000 20 Oct 2000 Olympic Solidarity Yves Regnier (FRA)

Mauritius 12 Nov 2004 16 Nov 2004 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Mauritius 20 Sep 2003 27 Sep 2003 Olympic Solidarity Jean-Paul Martin (FRA)

Mauritius 10 Nov 2002 15 Nov 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Mauritius 31 May 2001 08 Jun 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Morocco 20 Mar 2005 24 Mar 2005 ITTF Development Project Philippe Molodzoff (FRA)

Morocco 22 Mar 2005 24 Mar 2005 WJC Junior Training Camp Philippe Molodzoff (FRA)

Morocco 07 Jun 2004 14 Jun 2004 Olympic Solidarity Isabelle Thibaud (FRA)

Morocco 04 Feb 2003 10 Feb 2003 Development Project-Umpires Bernard Barbier (FRA)

Niger 24 Jun 2005 05 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project-Umpires Jacky Simon (FRA)

Niger 24 Mar 2003 31 Mar 2003 ITTF Development Project Flourent Le Boucher (FRA)

Niger 24 Mar 2003 31 Mar 2003 Development Project-Umpires Jacky Simon (FRA)

Nigeria 29 Sep 2003 03 Oct 2003 ITTF Referees Course Colin Clement (ENG) Reto Bazzi (SUI)

Nigeria 21 Aug 2002 31 Aug 2002 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Nigeria 01 Jul 2001 14 Jul 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Nigeria 26 Mar 2000 21 Mar 2000 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Rwanda 22 Jan 2004 31 Jan 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Rwanda 22 Jul 2002 31 Jul 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Senegal 27 Jun 2005 04 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project Jacques Secretin (FRA)

Senegal 26 Nov 2005 03 Dec 2005 Olympic Solidarity Kaka Lawson (TOG)

Senegal 16 Jun 2003 24 Jun 2003 High Performance Coaching Course Fernando Correira (FRA)

Senegal 25 Jun 2003 03 Jul 2003 ITTF Umpires Course Christian Menant (FRA)

Senegal 01 Aug 2001 14 Aug 2001 ITTF Development Project Douggie Johnson (FRA)

Seychelles 21 Aug 2003 28 Aug 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Seychelles 15 Nov 2002 20 Nov 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Seychelles 06 Dec 2001 13 Dec 2001 ITTF Development Project Regis Canor (FRA)

Seychelles 02 Nov 1999 09 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Yoto Drianovski (BUL)

Sierra Leone 07 Oct 2002 20 Oct 2002 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Somalia 01 May 2005 07 May 2005 ITTF Development Project Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Somalia 08 May 2005 14 May 2005 ITTF "Tsunami Rebuilding" Project Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Somalia 12 Mar 2003 19 Mar 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Somalia 14 Apr 2002 23 Apr 2002 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Somalia 01 Apr 2001 14 Apr 2001 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

South Africa 15 Sep 2004 26 Sep 2004 ITTF Junior Training Camp Glenn Tepper (AUS)

South Africa 27 Jan 2003 31 Jan 2003 WJC Junior Training Camp-Egypt Nikolai Novikov (RUS)

South Africa 11 Dec 2002 15 Dec 2002 ITTF Umpires Course Rodrique Volkwyne (RSA)

South Africa 06 Dec 2002 14 Dec 2002 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

South Africa 01 Aug 2001 14 Aug 2001 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

South Africa 30 Oct 2000 14 Nov 2000 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Sudan 12 Mar 2004 20 Mar 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Sudan 25 Nov 2004 01 Dec 2004 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Sudan 08 Jan 2002 20 Jan 2002 ITTF Development Project Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Tanzania 11 Oct 2004 20 Oct 2004 Olympic Solidarity Jan Berner (SWE)

Tanzania 09 Jul 2003 16 Jul 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Togo 01 Feb 2003 08 Feb 2003 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Togo 23 Sep 2005 30 Sep 2005 ITTF Development Project Sylvain Chermette (FRA)

Togo 11 Feb 2001 17 Feb 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Tunisia 05 Jul 2004 10 Jul 2004 ITTF Development Project Michel Gadal (FRA)

Tunisia 05 Sep 2003 15 Sep 2003 Olympic Solidarity Khaled Mabrouk (TUN) Mohammed Daieb (TUN)

Tunisia 01 Jul 2002 07 Jul 2002 High Performance Coaching Course Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Tunisia 01 Jul 2002 07 Jul 2002 ITTF Referees Course Aksell Beckmann (DEN) Reto Bazzi (SUI)

Tunisia 02 Dec 2000 09 Dec 2000 Olympic Solidarity Bernard Perret (FRA)

Tunisia 26 Jun 2000 01 Jul 2000 Afro-Arab Under 17 Girls Training Camp Deng Yaping (CHN)

Tunisia 24 Jul 1999 30 Jul 1999 Olympic Solidarity Patrick Ringel (FRA)

Uganda 05 Feb 2006 15 Feb 2006 ITTF Development Project/ITTF Level 1 & Training Camp Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

Uganda 28 Oct 2003 06 Nov 2003 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Uganda 01 Jul 2003 08 Jul 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Uganda 15 Aug 2001 29 Aug 2001 ITTF Development Project Babatunde Obisanya (NIG)

Zambia 23 Sep 2003 30 Sep 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)

Zambia 23 Nov 2002 02 Dec 2002 Olympic Solidarity Anver Lyners (RSA)

Zambia 14 Aug 2001 27 Aug 2001 ITTF Development Project GlennTepper (AUS)

Zimbabwe 08 May 2004 17 May 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)


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ITTF/ATTF Development Program Equipment AssistanceCountry Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables Other

Algeria 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6

Algeria 2002 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Angola 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Angola 2001 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Angola 1999 ITTF Agreement Joola 8 8 48 16

ATTF 2005 African Junior Championships Newgy donation 5500

ATTF 2001 African Youth-African Cup 1932 523

ATTF 2000 Africa Championships Double Happiness 2000

ATTF 1999 African Youth 1400 32

ATTF 1999 Worlds Championships Double Happiness 2000

ATTF 1999 All Africa Games 2300 32

Benin 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 20 ITTF manuals

Benin 2001 ITTF Agreement 6 6 100 2 6

Botswana 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Botswana 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 10 ITTF manuals

Botswana 2001 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Burkina Faso 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Burkina Faso 2004 ITTF-FFTT co-operation FFTT 6 6 80 8 6

Burkina Faso 2000 ITTF Agreement 4 4 2

Burundi 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Burundi 2001 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Cameroon 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Cameroon 2004 ITTF-FFTT Co-operation FFTT 6 6 80 8 6

Cameroon 2000 ITTF Agreement 4 4 2

Central Africa 2003 ITTF Agreement Egypt 6 6

Congo 2005 Africa Club-Africa Singles Cup Stag 12 12 200 20 12 12 26 ITTF manuals

Congo 2000 ITTF Agreement 4 4 2

Congo DR 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 20 ITTF manuals

Congo DR 2002 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6

Congo DR 2000 African Cup 8 100 17

Côte D’Ivoire 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF Lab 10

Djibouti 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 8 6 10 ITTF manuals

Egypt 2004 Ishraq Project Tibhar 2000 50

Egypt 2001 Africa Youth-Africa Cup Stag 12 12 200 12 12

Egypt 1999 International Training Centre 10 12 250 10 10 20 towel boxes

Equatorial Guinea 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 200 15

Ethiopia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Ethiopia 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Ethiopia 2000 African Championships ITTF-China 21 66 200 4 8 8

Gabon 2003 ITTF Agreement Joola (Egypt-tables) 6 6 80 8 6

Gambia 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Gambia 2003 ITTF Agreement Joola (Egypt-tables) 6 6 80 8 6

Ghana 2004 African Youth Championships Joola 12 12 200 20 12 12 10 ITTF manuals

Ghana 2000 ITTF Agreement 4 4 2

Guinea 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Kenya 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 40 ITTF manuals

Kenya 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Kenya 1999 African Youth Joola 8 12 100 8 8

Lesotho 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Lesotho 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6


Benin Djibouti

PHOTO BY BENIN TTF PHOTO BY DJIBOUTI TTA

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ITTF/ATTF Development Program Equipment Assistance


Malawi Senegal

PHOTO BY TTA MALAWI PHOTO BY SENEGAL TTF

Country Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables Other

Liberia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Liberia 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Liberia 2003 ITTF Agreement Joola (Egypt-tables) 6 6 80 8 6

Liberia 2001 ITTF Agreement 6 6 100 2 6

Libya 2002 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Madagascar 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Malawi 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Malawi 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Malawi 2002 ITTF Agreement Stag 2 2 100 5

Mauritania 2004 ITTF-FFTT Co-operation FFTT 6 6 80 8 6

Mauritius 2004 African Senior Championships ITTF Equipment equivalent-US$5000 30 ITTF manuals

Morocco 2005 African Junior Butterfly 12 12 200 20 12 12 6 ITTF manuals

Morocco 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6

Morocco 2002 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Namibia 2002 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6

Niger 2004 ITTF-FFTT co-operation FFTT 6 6 80 8 6

Niger 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Nigeria 2003 Africa Games Joola 12 12 200 20 12 12

Nigeria 2001 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 100 2 6

Rwanda 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Rwanda 2001 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Senegal 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 40 ITTF manuals

Senegal 2003 African Singles Cup Stag 12 12 200 100 20 12 12

Senegal 2003 OlympAfrica Stag 2 4 100 2

Seychelles 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 8 6

Sierra Leone 2003 ITTF Agreement Joola (Egypt-tables) 6 6 80 8 6

Somalia 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 20 ITTF manuals

Somalia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Newgy donation 1 Robopong

Somalia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Butterfly donation 4 4 20 4

Somalia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Stag donation 125 10 25 t-shirts

Somalia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Madeira TTA 365 items-clothing

Somalia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Collection Shanghai 25 shirts

Somalia 2001 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6

South Africa 2002 African Junior/Singles Cup Stag 12 12 200 20 12 12

South Africa 1999 All Africa Games, Olympic Qualification Joola 10 14 140 8 10

Sudan 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Sudan 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6

Sudan 2002 ITTF Agreement Joola 6 6 100 2 6

Tanzania 2004 China TTA Assistance China TTA 10 10 100 100 10 ITTF manuals

Tanzania 2002 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6

Togo 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Togo 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Tunisia 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6

Tunisia 2002 African Senior Championships Joola 12 12 200 968 20 12 12

Uganda 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6

Zambia 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 8 6

Zambia 2002 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6

Zimbabwe 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 10 ITTF manuals

Template.qxp 27/03/2006 16:40


ASIA

The Asia Development Program focuses on

training camps, coach education and equipment

assistance based on the five regions,

co-ordinated by the Asia Development Officer.

Zeina Shaban of Jordan, gained an ITTF Scholarship

and played in the 2004 OlympicsPHOTO BY MARIANN DOMONKOS

“We need to bring about a high awareness of table tennis in Asia andthereby continually promote table tennis expeditiously. Our DevelopmentProgram in Asia is sparing no effort to achieve this goal.”

Choo Wee Khiang (ITTF Continental Vice President Asia)

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHOO WEE KHIANG

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`BhutanThailand’s Phusit Mudta-ngam conductedOlympic Solidarity Courses in August 1999and in July 2001 whilst in 2002 he was inthe country from April to December leadinga `Developing a National Coaching StructureCourse’.

Meanwhile, in July 2004 Sweden’sEmmanuel Christiansson visited Bhutan toteach an Olympic Solidarity Course. The pro-gramme was based on the ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual and was held in the capi-tal, Thimphu; twenty-two coaches enrolled.

In Bhutan, altitude is a major factor withThimphu being approximately two thousandmetres above sea level and when playingtable tennis it makes a difference.

Participants in 2004 included nationalteam players, coaches and schoolteachers;four were women, two national players andtwo teachers.

Special guest at the course was IngaEriksson Fogh, the Swedish Ambassador inIndia who was visiting the King of Bhutan.She was very impressed with the course andalso very pleasantly surprised meeting aSwede in charge.

The course proved most successful andEmmanuel Christiansson saw a bright futurefor the sport in the country. “Bhutan has agreat possibility to build table tennis into aleading sport when you consider the lowcost”, he said. “Also, it has strong supportfrom a developing federation with highlyeducated and hard working people.”

The Secretary General is Prem Rai who isworking as a volunteer. He used to play inthe national team and has also been nationalcoach. “The national players in Bhutan arevery young and if they can have the oppor-tunity to practise in another country, in Asiaor Europe they could reach a high level”,added Christiansson. “Such opportunitieswould give Bhutan players the chance tobuild up a new strong generation which willtake table tennis to a higher level.”

A very worthwhile course and EmmaualChristiansson certainly enjoyed his week in acountry often referred to as the Switzerlandof Asia.

BangladeshBrazil’s Marles Martins was the expert onduty in late November 2005 to conduct anITTF/ATTU Level One Coaching Course atthe Bangabandhu National Stadium inDhaka.

Twenty-one coaches from the sixadministrative regions attended with someof the coaches having to travel more thaneight hours by road to reach Dhaka in diffi-cult times. In fact, when the course wasabout to start, the opposition party organ-ised two major strikes that involved allpublic transport and the public administra-tion departments.

Understandably, the disruption createdgreat problems for the coaches and theOrganising Committee of the BangladeshTable Tennis Federation.

However, the course was a great suc-cess and the coaches were pleased withthe new ideas; certainly the result was agreat deal of enthusiasm and they returnedto their clubs to coach players in a verypositive mood.

The course took place at a time whenthe Bangladesh national team was startingits preparation for the major event for theseason, the South Asian Games in India inApril 2006. Therefore, all the players weremotivated and success would no doubthave a very positive effect on table tennisin Bangladesh.

Some of the national team playersattended the ITTF/ATTU Level One Coursein order to gain more information aboutour sport and prepare for the future. Mostof them wanted to become table tenniscoaches, which is really a very good signthat the situation will change in the nearfuture for the better.

Undoubtedly, with more coachesinvolved to increase the number of knowl-edgeable players in the country, we canexpect some surprises for the future.

Bangladesh BhutanCambodia Iran

PHOTOBY BAN

GLADESH

TTA

PHOTO COURTESY OF AFSHIN BADIEE

Marles Martins in Bangladesh

“The ITTF Development Program has brought the AsianAssociations closer to each other and has brought to lifeseveral small developing associations in the continent”

Afshin Badiee (Asian Table Tennis Union Development Officer)

Phusit Mudta-ngam in Bhutan

PHOTOBY BHUTAN

TTF

Cambodia In the Autumn of 2002 Croatia's RomanPlese visited Phnom Penh in Cambodia toconduct a course on the basic techniquesof table tennis.

Twenty-four participants attended thesuccessful ten day course.

IranRoman Plese conducted an ITTF/ATTU HighPerformance Coaching Course for forty-two enthusiastic coaches in Tehran in earlyMarch 2005 and was most impressed withthe new Iran Table Tennis Academy “Itmust be one of the top three venues of itstype in the world”, he said on his return.

The building is a dream come true forShahrokh Shahnazi, the President of theTable Tennis Federation of the IslamicRepublic of Iran, who is also a member ofthe ITTF Board of Directors, West AsiaRegional President and Asian Table TennisUnion Vice President.

“It is a large and incomparable com-plex built to develop and improve tabletennis not only in Iran but also in Middleand West Asia”, said Afshin Badiee, theATTU Development Officer. “The Academycan hold international and national train-ing camps as well as different table tenniscourses.”

A very impressive venue, it consists offour floors of totalling four thousandsquare metres. The first floor has a restau-rant and administration with several officesand meeting rooms. The guest house is onthe second floor where more than seventyguests can be accommodated. Two largetraining halls are located on the third andfourth floors while the hall on the fourthfloor is quite suitable for holding middlesizes tournaments also.

The course proved a success andRoman Plese was pleased with theresponse from those in attendance. “Thecoaches actively participated in every ses-sion”, he said. “They obviously have astrong motivation to succeed; the onlyaspect holding back Iran is exposure tomodern methods of training and interna-tional competition.”

However, the country is makingprogress and no doubt the advice given byRoman Plese is another step forward for acountry rapidly improving in the sport oftable tennis.

Later in 2005, in November, the IranTable Tennis Academy was the venue forthe Olympic Solidarity Course in Tehran ledby Benone Grigore, with Afshin Badiee,the Development Officer of the Asian TableTennis Union assisting and ShahrokhShahnazi, the President of the Table Tennis

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ASIA JordanKazakhstan Kyrgyzstan

PHOTOBY TTF

IRIRAN

Roman Plese, Saida Kudussova, Azamat Talasbaev - Kyrgyzstan 2005 PHOTO BY TTF KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

The High Performance Course at the Iran Academy in March 2005

very enthusiastic when it comes to tabletennis and he’s no stranger to training ses-sions. He has attended courses in the pastorganised by the International Table TennisFederation and the Asian Table TennisUnion under the tutelage of AhmedDawlatly. He plays for the Helel Club inJerusalem and travelled five hours to bepresent in Amman.

However, when compared with theefforts of forty-seven year old MouayadHamed and his protégée, thirteen year oldnational cadet champion Wala’a Othman,it was a relatively short trip. They travelleda distance of over one thousand kilometresto attend the course in Jordan in August2005, a car journey in excess of fifteenhours from their home in Iraq.

The young championis intent on makingprogress, he is keento practise and hewants to practisemore; six trainingsessions per weekis his avowed goal.

Meanwhile, hiscoach dreams of Iraqgaining a higherstatus in the tabletennis world andreturning toa standardthe countryenjoyed overtwo decadesago.MouayadHamed was amember of thenational teambut was deprivedof a longercareer whendrafted intothe army. Hewas held as aprisoner ofwar for six

PHOTO BY JORDAN TTF

Federation of Iran, organising matters.Thirty participants, including nine

women, met in Tehran; the aim of thecourse was to standardise the CoachEducation system in the country. Mostwere Course Conductors who had alreadyattended ITTF High Performance CoachingCourses. However, the national associationbelieved it would be beneficial for them togain more knowledge on basic coachingmethods so the ITTF Level One CoachingManual formed the basis of the course,promoting hours of discussion and debate.

The theory sessions were conducted inthe seminar room of the Iran OlympicAcademy and practical session were held inthe second hall of the Iran Table TennisAcademy.

Benone Grigore who hadbeen theHead Coach of Swedish International TableTennis Academy for several years was veryimpressed with the facilities in Iran. “Ialways thought the Sweden Table TennisAcademy is a colliseum but I have tochange my mind after visiting the Iranacademy.” he said

Strong leadership, good structures, andnow a World Class Venue; more playersfrom Iran will surely appear on the worldstage in the near future.

JordanMaking a long, tiring journey is often anecessity when involved in sport but forsome it can be tortuous and even haz-ardous.

A willingness to travel great distancesto attend courses that are part of the ITTFDevelopment Program happens quite regu-larly. The enthusiasm for table tennis, thedesire to learn are common factors wher-ever the courses are held and the WestAsia Training Camp in Amman, organisedjointly by the International Table TennisFederation and the Asian Table TennisUnion, was no exception.

Traeq Hindieh, a Palestinian businessadministration student, is to say the least

years but put his time to good use bylearning English.

Now he believes that the situation inBaghdad and in Iraq in general is slowlyimproving; organising training for promis-ing young athletes is not easy but there issome progress. Wala'a can train threetimes per week but only during the day asin the evening power cuts often occur.

Roman Plese conducted the West AsiaTraining Camp in Amman and took theopportunity to meet members of theJordan Table Tennis Federation and theJordan Olympic Committee who had givenassistance to the troubled country of Iraq.

Also he found a rising star; elevenyears old Raya Shaban, the younger sisterof Zeina Shaban who competed in theAthens Olympic Games in 2004.

KazakhstanPart of the ITTF Development Program inAsia is that each region is allocated a train-ing camp each year; for the West MiddleAsia, the training camp in 2004 was inKazakhstan (25th August-4th September).

Thirty players and twenty-four coachesfrom Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstanattended the camp led by ITTFDevelopment Officer, Roman Plese.

The Kazakhstan Table TennisAssociation provided an excellent trainingenvironment; the hard work of YevgeniyTimchenko (Executive Vice-President),Malik Beisaliyev (State Coach andKazakhstan National Olympic Committeemember) plus Yelena Druzhkova(Interpreter), together with the knowledgeof the ITTF expert, Roman Plese, made thecamp a great success.

KyrgyzstanThe Kyrgyz Republic has had no

direct contact with internationaltraining or competition formany years, so the firstITTF/ATTU Course in the capi-tal of Bishkek was met withgreat enthusiasm. A JuniorTraining Camp held inDecember 2004 produceda tremendous atmosphereand one player in particu-

lar impressed the coach onduty, Roman Plese, the player’s nameSaida Kudussova.

Fourteen years old, she was thebest player at the training camp. “Herclean technique and high level ofplaying kept my attention on theyoung and talented girl”, said an

Wala’a Outmman in Jordan

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impressed Plese, who has conducted simi-lar courses in over forty countries in thelast two years. Saida Kudussova attendedthe ITTF/ATTU training Camp in Kazakhstanfrom 26th August to 3rd September 2004and is undoubtedly a young lady with veryclear goals; her aim is to compete in theWorld Championships in Shanghai and tomeet her idol, Wang Nan.

Meanwhile, whilst in Kyrgyzstan,Roman Plese met the Chairman of TheState Committee of Kyrgyz Republic forTourism, Sport and Youth Policy, OktombekAlmakuchukov and was able to promote aclose future working relationship with theState Committee and Kyrgyzstan OlympicCommittee for the development of tabletennis in Kyrgyz Republic.

The International Table TennisFederation sent a package of six tables, sixnets and post sets, six scorers, eighty rack-ets plus eight gross of table tennis balls toKyrgyz Republic in early 2005.

LaosJan Berner was the expert on duty in Laosat the Olympic Solidarity Course in lateMay, early June 2004.

The major problem Jan Berner facedwas the humidity and explaining to thecourse members that the rubber on theracket must be dry in order to impart spinon the ball. European players would nodoubt have thrown their racket in theirbag and gone home; in such conditionsthe coach had to find creative solutions.

Two of the twenty-six coaches werewomen; both had been educated in Chinaand had a knowledge of the sport fromwhich potential coaches could benefit.

Certainly progress is being made intable tennis; the week before Jan Bernerarrived they held their first ever interna-tional championships with Cambodia,South Korea, and Vietnam invited. Theyfinished in third place beating Cambodia,for Laos a great success.

Wounds from foreign occupation inthe 1970s still hurt but with a new opencountry and a great deal of optimism thefuture of Laos table tennis and the countrygenerally looks very promising.

MaldivesGlenn Tepper visited the Madives in July2000 to conduct an Olympic SolidarityCourse and whilst football was the numberone sport he also found a very active tabletennis community.

Players from the Maldives who hadcompeted in competitions organised by theSouth Asia Federation Games (India,Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,Bangladesh,

Maldives, Bhutan) had a full-time Chinesecoach for twelve months and employed aNepal Coach for six months. Also theyemployed a full-time Development Officerand had one person fulfil the role of bothcoach and player in Hungary as part of theOlympic Solidarity Coaching ScholarshipProgramme.

Twenty-four table tennis enthusiastsparticipated in Coach Education, UmpiresCourse and Tournament OrganisationCourses, as well as meeting to discussfuture development directions.

The course organiser was AhmedLatheef, the President of the Table TennisAsociation of Maldives and the sport’smain driving force in the island.

Further visits followed in 2002 whenDavid Fairholm led an Olympic SolidarityCourse and from ist December 2004 to25th February 2005, Arif Kahn conductedan Olympic Solidarity `Developing ANational Coaching Structure’ programme,a course that was interrupted by the tsuna-mi disaster.

MalaysiaMarles Martins completed an ITTF LevelOne Coaching Course in Kuala Lumpur inNovember 2005 having received a warmwelcome and being most impressed by theresponse of the students.

Organised under the auspices ofOlympic Solidarity, thirty-six coaches, twen-ty-four men and twelve women from thefourteen states in Malaysia were in atten-dance. The course was held at the premis-es of the Olympic Committee of Malaysiafor Indoor Sports; a splendid venue thatprovided all the facilities necessary in thesame building, a hotel, restaurant, lectureroom and a reasonably large hall. The firstfour days of the course were allocated toan ITTF Level One Coaching Course andthe following three days for advancedcoaching.

“Every member of the group wasenthusiastic, there was a thirst for knowl-edge”, explained Marles Martins. “I haveno doubt that we can expect a very posi-tive future for table tennis in Malaysia;everyone I met was motivated, there is agreat deal of commitment to make tabletennis grow.”

The reaction of those on the coursewas one that clearly encouraged MarlesMartins. “The course was differentbecause there was such a good interactionbetween the coaches, the atmosphere was

splendid, everybody was made welcome,very welcome”, explained Marles Martins.“Every guest was made to feel special, thewords `Salamat Datang’, welcome inMalay, were written on the faces of everycoach, they were pleased to see youthere.”

Economically, South East Asia is grow-ing rapidly and so is table tennis; the rea-son is that an excellent structure has beenput in place.

“The Table Tennis Association ofMalaysia is an example to other sportingassociations in the country”, said MarlesMartins. “The administration is very goodand they have their own headquarters in apleasant four storey building in the middleof one of the biggest commercial areas inKuala Lumpur, it’s a building they’ve occu-pied since 2000.”

Clearly Marles Martins was impressedwith what he saw in Malaysia; goodorganisation, tremendous enthusiasm andundoubtedly a promising future in thesport of table tennis lies ahead.

Myanmar Myanmar completed its first ever CoachEducation Course during an OlympicSolidarity Technical Course in August 2005in Yangon. Led by Richard McAfee, thecourse was well organised thanks to theefforts of Kyaw Kyaw, the President of theMyanmar Table Tennis Federation.

Forty-three coaches took part repre-senting every state and division of thecountry; many of the participants havingto travel for several days.

Everyone was housed and fed at theOlympic Hotel with the training sessionstaking place at the federation’s full-timetraining hall that housed six courts.

“Considering this was the first courseof its kind in the country, the playing levelof the coaches was quite high”, saidRichard McAfee. “Everyone was very dedi-cated to learning; the class completed theITTF Level One Course work and moved onto even more advanced topics.”

Very pleasing but perhaps the bestnews received during the visit was a deci-sion by the federation to apply for mem-bership to the ITTF. Therefore, RichardMcAfee assisted Kyaw Kyaw, with thepreparation of the application papers.

Myanmar already has many plans forthe development of the sport of table ten-nis in their country. They have a strongnational junior team and in the future theyhope to play in more international compe-titions. The future of any sport rests withits coaches and with the success of theITTF's Coaching Course in Myanmar, thatfuture looks bright indeed.

Laos MaldivesMalaysia Myanmar

Malaysia 2005PHOTO BY TTA MALAYSIA PHOTO BY ALL NEPAL TTA

Maldives 2000PHOTO BY TTA MALAYSIA

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26Development Program 2006

ASIAwhilst the coaches from the host countryhad all been involved at national level andwere employed by the National SportsCouncil solely as table tennis coaches.Therefore, the coaches were of a higherstandard than the ITTF Level One Coursebut nevertheless the exchange of ideas,discussion on new techniques and the pro-motion of the International Table TennisFederation in Nepal all proved valuable.Most importantly, the International TableTennis Federation was seen as taking apositive interest in promoting the sport inNepal; a fact that was very well received byall concerned.

One year later in December 2005, JanBerner led an ITTF Level Two Course withinKathmandu, attended by fourteen enthusi-astic coaches.

The course was part of the ITTF/ATTUDevelopment Program with the partici-pants coming from different parts of thecountry, several taking a bumpy and dan-gerous fourteen hour bus ride through theHimalayas.

An ITTF Level One Course in December2004 having been completed, their knowl-edge and basic strokes were quite good;however, skills in service and service returnknowledge was lacking.

The sessions were especially appreciat-ed by the National Team members in atten-dance with planning and periodisationforming part of the programme. However,coaching beginners was not neglected andfor most is a reality as that constitutesmost of their daily work. All completed thecourse with a new found motivation andthe knowledge gained from the widelytravelled Swede was most beneficial.

Unfortunately, sport is not high on theagenda in Nepal owing to the tense politi-cal situation. On the first day of the coursein 2005, there was a demonstration with

Nepal In 1996 the late Roy Pugh conducted asuccessful Olympic Solidarity Course inLainchau, Nepal whilst in 2004 SteveDainton was the expert on duty and in2005 it was the turn of Jan Berner.

Steve Dainton visited Nepal inDecember 2004 to conduct one of Asia’sfirst ever ITTF Level One Coaching Courses.It was his second journey of the year tosouth east Asia having earlier visitedAfghanistan.

The visit brought back many memoriesfor him and there were similarities. “Therewas tension in the air as Maoist rebels hadincreased their campaign against the gov-ernment; armed security was therefore veryvisible”, he explained. “Yet still the peoplewere trying to go about everyday life andthe streets here in Kathmandu werebustling with people coping with theirtense political environment, not to mentiona dusty one."

The phenomenon was that sport con-tinued and the recently reformed All NepalTable Tennis Association was making everyeffort to bring the sport back to the glorydays of its past.

Nepal was one of the founder mem-bers of the Asian Table Tennis Union, theyhave been regular participants in the WorldChampionships and Asian Games whilst inthe region’s most important competition,the South East Asia Games, they have ahost of medals to show for their efforts.

Furthermore, they had very close linkswith China and Steve Dainton was in factshown a photograph of the national teamwith one of China's former leaders, ZhouEnlai.

Many of the coaches who took part inthe course had studied at the highlyrespected Sports’ School in Patiyala, India

twelve people killed by soldiers, resulting inall shops, schools and offices being closedthe next day, as well as restricted trafficflow.

Despite these difficulties, the coursestill managed to be completed as planned.

A need for Nepal is equipment and in2004 the ITTF/ATTU provided a large pack-age of rackets and balls. Meanwhile, JanBerner kindly supplemented this withtwenty-nine blades donated by Stiga,together with used rubbers donated byWorld Champions and local players fromSweden and Norway.

The early Christmas present was appre-ciated.

PakistanThe Pakistan Table Tennis Federation, underthe leadership of its recently appointedpresident Saiyid Mohammad Sibtain,organised an ITTF/ATTU Coach EducationCourse in December 2005 and adoptedthe new ITTF Coach Accreditation system.at the Pakistan Sports Complex inIslamabad.

Twenty-seven knowledgeable andenthusiastic coaches (including fivewomen) from four of the six provinces ofPakistan (Sindh, North Western FrontierProvince, Punjab and Balochistan) attendedthe week long course at the PakistanSports Complex in Islamabad. All workedvery hard and all greatly enjoyed the expe-rience. There was a great deal of enthusi-asm and the response to the new ideasexplained by Marles Martins, the coach onduty, showed that Pakistan has a strongcommitment to raising the level of play.

The Pakistan Sports Complex is thehome of the Pakistan Sports Board (thenational sports funding body) and has thefacilities to host seventeen sports withspace and comfort.

Table tennis is situated in a hall withgood standard of lighting, a wooden floor,ample space for seven tables and seatingfor five hundred spectators. In addition,the Pakistan Sports Complex has aPhysiotherapy Centre and doctors as wellas lodging for two hundred male athletesand one hundred and fifty female athletesin two different buildings whilst meals areavailable for both resident and visiting ath-letes.

The former international, Arif Khan, isworking with the Pakistan Table TennisFederation with the goal of raising playingstandards. He reached the top sixty of theITTF Men’s World Ranking List and was aquarter-finalist at the Asian Championships

Arif Khan is one of the ITTF Level OneCourse Presenters and has been workingextensively in Malawi and Maldives. The ITTF/ATTU Coach Education Course in Pakistan in December 2005

PHOTOBY PAKISTAN

TTF

NepalPakistan

Nepal 2004PHOTO BY ALL NEPAL TTA

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PalestineMany barriers existed to the OlympicSolidarity Course concluded in Palestine inJuly 2005 but table tennis prevailed overpolitics and the concept `Breaking DownBarriers with Table Tennis Balls' once againproved to be a success.

In order to allow participants from theWest Bank and Gaza the opportunity toparticipate, Egypt’s Ahmed Dawlatly con-ducted courses in both areas (Hebron andGaza), as it was impossible for either sideto cross to the other.

The move was greatly appreciated bycourse participants who, in order toattend, had a walk of three or four hours.

Nine women attended the courses, allof whom had to make agreements withtheir families to be free of their domesticduties; one such lady, Asmaa Al Demery,even though pregnant, was not deterredand fully participated in the ITTF Level Onecourse. Meanwhile, some of the male par-ticipants asked permission for their sons toattend in order to experience `the real andtrue table tennis’. The youngest was a boynamed Hosam and his presence helpedgreatly in the course staged in Gaza.

Enthusiasm, gratitude and hospitalityabounded in both courses with everyoneappreciating the efforts to make the pro-grammes a reality. The result was thatAhmed Dawlatly, in traditional hospitablePalestinian style, was treated to manysumptuous banquets as a mark of appreci-ation; in fact he suspected serious weightgain would be the result!

ThailandPromoted by the ITTF DevelopmentProgram and the Asian Table Tennis Union,thirty coaches from Cambodia, Malaysia,Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines,Singapore and Laos plus the host countryThailand, attended a successful HighPerformance Coaching Course in earlyAugust 2005.

Nattavuth Ruengves, the Secretary-General of the Thailand Table TennisAssociation and Don Mudta-Ngam,Coaching Committee Chairman, workedtirelessly to organise a thorough pro-gramme that provided splendid facilities

for theory sessions and an excellent train-ing centre for practical sessions.

Benone Grigore of the United Statesconducted the course and was clearlyimpressed with proceedings: “Thailand isvery well organised in planning and mentaltraining, also I saw many young, talentedand promising table tennis players”, heexplained. “The overall knowledge of thecoaches present was also very high.”

The standard of play amongst theleading players in Thailand is very impres-sive. Nanthana Komwong, who has spenttime training in Europe, competed in theAthens Olympic Games in 2004. It was afine achievement to be present in Greecewith the qualification tournament in Asiabeing arguably the most intense in theWorld.

Furthermore, the country regularlyhires Chinese coaches so the different per-spective presented by Benone Grigore wasundoubtedly of value.

TurkmenistanThe much travelled Roman Plese was inTurkmenistan in November 2004 where heconducted an Olympic Solidarity Course inAshgabat.

It was his second visit to Turkmenistan;he had previously conducted an ITTFDevelopment Project course in the countryin September 2002.

UzbekistanRoman Plese visited Uzbekistan in lateMarch, early April 2005 where he conduct-ed an Olympic Solidarity Course.

It was the first time that an officialtable tennis course had been staged in thecountry; it was most definitely wellreceived.

YemenEven the course director, Afshin Badiee,the ATTU Development Officer, could nothave predicted such positive energy thatresulted from the first ever course held inYemen under the ITTF/ATTU DevelopmentProgram in December 2005.

Five women out of a total of twenty-three participants enrolled in the four daycourse at the Olympic Centre in the capitalcity Sana'a. The participants were mainlyPresidents of Table Tennis Associations ofdifferent cities of Yemen plus some admin-istrators of the Yemen TTA.

The President of the Yemen TableTennis Association, Nabil Fakih, attendedseveral sessions in the course with DrHesam, the Secretary-General and coursemanager being ever present.

The course consisted of three maincomponents: Principles of Managementand Planning, Planning for a National TableTennis Association, Planning an interna-tional tournament.

The first part was a presentation by thecourse director Afshin Badiee of Iran withboth the second and third parts involving aworkshop and a summing up by thecourse director.

It was the second occasion that acourse under the auspices of the ITTF hadbeen held in Yemen. The one previouscourse was held in 2000 when AhmedDawlatly was the instructor at an OlympicSoldarity Course.

In addition to organising affairs, thecourse director had chance to meet anddiscuss with the highest sport authoritiesin Yemen such as Deputy Minister of Youthand Sport, Assistant Deputy Minister incharge of sport and also NOC SecretaryGeneral who visited the course.

The reaction of those on the coursesuggested that Yemen has a positive tabletennis future and this is certainly enhancedby the new table tennis hall that has beenbuilt in the Olympic complex.

A six hundred and seventy-two squaremetre size hall; it is purpose built for tabletennis. It has the capacity of twenty tablesfor training (or nine tables for internationalcompetitions), six hundred and fifty seatsfor spectators plus fifty VIP seats.

Three foreign coaches from Korea,China and Japan are working in co-opera-tion with local coaches to introduce a newgeneration of Yemeni table tennis players.

Yemen TTA is also planning its hugeadministration centre and guest house tobe built next to this hall in the very nearfuture.

The plans are ambitious but if you areto succeed in whatever walk of life thenambition is crucial. Building the new tabletennis centre was ambitious but it hap-pened and no doubt in their next endeav-our they will succeed.

PHOTOBY PALESTIN

ETTA

The new table tennis centre in Yemen

Palestine ThailandTurkmenistanUzbekistan Yemen

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Ahmed Dawlatly in Palestine, 2005

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ITTF/ATTU Development Program Courses Country Date from Date to Course ExpertAfghanistan 10 Mar 2004 27 Mar 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)Bahrain 19 Feb 2004 19 Aug 2004 Olympic Solidarity-DNCS Tetyana Kokunina (UKR)Bahrain 03 Feb 2003 10 Feb 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Bahrain 08 May 1999 17 May 1999 Olympic Solidarity Dejan Papic (SCG)Bangladesh 23 Nov 2005 30 Nov 2005 ITTF Development Project Marles Martins (BRA)Bangladesh 18 Jan 2003 25 Jan 2003 ITTF Training Camp Tapar Chandra (IND)Bangladesh 08 Nov 1999 22 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Wieland Speer (GER)Bhutan 12 Jul 2004 23 Jul 2004 Olympic Solidarity Emanuel Christiansson (SWE)Bhutan 15 Apr 2002 31 Dec 2002 Olympic Solidarity DNCS Phusit Ngam (THA)Bhutan 18 Jul 2001 31 Jul 2001 Olympic Solidarity Phusit Ngam (THA)Bhutan 18 Aug 1999 31 Aug 1999 Olympic Solidarity Phusit Ngam (THA)Brunei 21 Jun 2005 24 Jun 2005 ITTF Development Project Li Chen (SIN)Brunei 07 Dec 2002 14 Dec 2002 ITTF Training Camp Roman Plese (HRV)Brunei 29 Apr 2000 05 May 2000 Olympic Solidarity Wieland Speer (GER)Cambodia 20 Sep 2001 29 Sep 2001 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)China 16 Aug 2002 23 Aug 2002 ITTF Training Camp Liu Wenqing (CHN)East Timor 26 Sep 2002 06 Oct 2002 ONOC-Olympic Solidarity-OTTF-ITTF Glenn Tepper (AUS)Hong Kong 17 May 2002 19 May 2002 Olympic Solidarity Regional Zhen Jiuxiang (CHN) Sung Ho Young (KOR)India 04 Oct 2005 10 Oct 2005 ITTF Women’s Course Polona Susin (SVN)India 15 Dec 2003 18 Dec 2003 ITTF Referees Course Colin Clement (ENG) Reto Bazzi (SUI)Indonesia 20 Sep 1999 25 Sep 1999 Olympic Solidarity Yoto Drianovski (BUL)Iran 28 Feb 2005 06 Mar 2005 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Iran 21 Nov 2005 28 Nov 2005 Olympic Solidarity Benone Grigore (SWE)Iran 24 Sep 2003 03 Oct 2003 ITTF Training Camp Foad Kaseb (IRI)Iran 24 Sep 2003 03 Oct 2003 ITTF Women's Course Polona Susin (SVN)Iran 25 Dec 2002 31 Dec 2002 ITTF Training Camp Houshang Bozongzadeh (USA)Iraq 01 Jan 2004 08 Jan 2004 ITTF Development Project Najim Mohammed (UAE)Iraq 28 Oct 2000 05 Nov 2000 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)Iraq 14 Nov 1999 21 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Dejan Papic (SCG)Jordan 01 Aug 2005 08 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Jordan 15 Jul 2003 23 Jul 2003 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)Jordan 30 Nov 2003 04 Dec 2003 ITTF Women's Course Branka Batinic (HRV)Jordan 22 Jun 2002 29 Jun 2002 High Performance Coaching Course Hubert Hustache (FRA)Jordan 24 May 1999 31 May 1999 Olympic Solidarity Mikael Andersson (SWE)Kazakhstan 25 Aug 2004 04 Sep 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Kazakhstan 08 Jul 2002 18 Jul 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Kyrgzystan 10 Dec 2004 20 Dec 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Laos 01 Jul 2005 30 Nov 2005 Olympic Solidarity Myung Hee Seo (KOR)Laos 26 May 2004 02 Jun 2004 Olympic Solidarity Jan Berner (SWE)Lebanon 13 Jun 2004 20 Jun 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Malaysia 11 Nov 2005 15 Nov 2005 ITTF Women's Course Chan Foong Keong (MAS)Malaysia 15 Nov 2005 21 Nov 2005 Olympic Solidarity Marles Martins (BRA)Malaysia 27 Dec 2003 28 Dec 2003 Tournament Organisation Chan Foong Keong (MAS)Malaysia 15 Nov 2002 17 Nov 2002 ITTF Referees Course Aksell Beckmann (DEN)Maldives 01 Dec 2004 25 Feb 2005 Olympic Solidarity-DNCS Arif Khan (PAK)Maldives 15 Jun 2002 22 Jun 2002 Olympic Solidarity David Fairholm (ENG)Maldives 13 Jul 2000 22 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)Mongolia 11 Dec 2002 17 Dec 2002 ITTF Development Project Park Do Cheon (KOR)Myanmar 15 Aug 2005 25 Aug 2005 Olympic Solidarity Richard McAfee (USA)Nepal 10 Dec 2005 17 Dec 2005 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)Nepal 12 Dec 2004 20 Dec 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)Oman 18 May 2002 25 May 2002 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)Pakistan 02 Dec 2005 09 Dec 2005 ITTF Development Project Marles Martins (BRA)Pakistan 17 Dec 2003 24 Dec 2003 Olympic Solidarity Foad Kased (IRI)Palestine 30 Jun 2005 14 Jul 2005 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)Philippines 15 Dec 2002 22 Dec 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Philippines 29 Jul 2000 04 Aug 2000 Olympic Solidarity Zeng Chuanqiang (CHN)Qatar 05 Nov 1999 11 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Dejan Papic (CAN)Saudi Arabia 04 Oct 2002 17 Oct 2002 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)Singapore 07 Jun 1999 12 Jun 1999 Olympic Solidarity Peter Hirst (ENG)Sri Lanka 07 Nov 2004 14 Nov 2004 Olympic Solidarity Jan Berner (SWE)Sri Lanka 02 Nov 1999 16 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Xi Enting (CHN)Syria 21 Nov 2004 26 Nov 2004 ITTF Women’s Course Polona Susin (SVN)Syria 25 Jan 2003 02 Feb 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Tajikistan 30 Jun 2005 06 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project Mehndad Babadirand (IRI)Tajikistan 07 Jun 2004 16 Jun 2004 Olympic Solidarity Foad Kaseb (IRI)Tajikistan 02 Aug 2003 16 Aug 2003 ITTF Development Project Foad Kased (IRI)Tajikistan 31 Mar 2002 10 Apr 2002 Olympic Solidarity Foad Kased [IRI]Thailand 27 Aug 2005 10 Sep 2005 ITTF Tsunami Rebuilding Richard McAfee (USA)Thailand 06 Aug 2005 11 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Benone Grigore (SWE)Thailand 06 Aug 2005 11 Aug 2005 High Performance Coaching Course Benone Grigore (SWE)Thailand 19 Nov 2003 23 Nov 2003 Olympic Solidarity Ken McLeod (ENG)Thailand 20 Nov 2000 26 Nov 2000 Olympic Solidarity Ian Marshall (ENG)Turkmenistan 19 Nov 2004 27 Nov 2004 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)Turkmenistan 19 Sep 2002 29 Sep 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)United Arab Emirates 24 Apr 2004 27 Apr 2004 ITTF Training Camp Linus Mernsten (SWE)United Arab Emirates 06 Jul 2002 12 Jul 2002 ITTF Training Camp Tibor Rozsnoyi (HUN)United Arab Emirates 24 Sep 2002 29 Sep 2002 Olympic Solidarity Mikael Andersson (SWE)United Arab Emirates 28 May 2001 03 Jun 2001 High Performance Coaching Course Mikael Andersson (SWE)Uzbekistan 29 Mar 2005 02 Apr 2005 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)Vietnam 10 Dec 2001 20 Dec 2001 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)Yemen 10 Dec 2005 14 Dec 2005 ITTF Development Project Afshin Badiee (IRI)Yemen 04 Sep 2000 15 Sep 2000 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)


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ITTF/ATTU Development Program Equipment AssistanceCountry Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables OtherAfghanistan 2004 ITTF-IOC-Butterfly Co-operation Butterfly donation 6 6 312 13 5 cartons-clothingATTU 2001 Asian Junior Nittaku 280 416Bangladesh 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsBangladesh 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6Bangladesh 2000 4Bhutan 2001 ITTF Agreement 4Brunei 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manualsEast Timor 2002 ONOC Stag 10 10 100 10 10India 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsIndia 2001 ITTF Agreement Taraflex US$10,000Indonesia 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 20 ITTF manualsIndonesia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Stag donation 125 10 25 t-shirtsIndonesia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Butterfly donation 4 4 20 4Indonesia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Juic donation 100Indonesia 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Newgy donation 1 RobopongIndonesia 2002 ITTF Agreement ITTF Lab 5Iran 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsIraq 2004 ITTF Agreement-Butterfly 12 12 80 8 6Iraq 1999 6 8 150 6 6 12 Towel boxesJordan 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manualsJordan 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6Jordan 2001 ITTFAgreement 4Kazakstan 2000 6Kyrgzystan 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 10 70 20 10Laos 2005 ITTF Agreement Butterfly-Thailand 10 10Laos 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsLaos 2003 ITTF Agreement Shanghai Sports-Bangkok 6 6 100 2 6Lebanon 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6Malaysia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsMaldives 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Double Happiness 300 30 300 t-shirtsMaldives 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Newgy donation 1 RobopongMaldives 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Stag donation 125 10 25 t-shirtsMaldives 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding ITTF 4 4 20 ITTF manualsMaldives 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Butterfly donation 4 4 20 4Maldives 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6Maldives 2000 6Mongolia 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6Mongolia 2001 ITTFAgreement 4Myanmar 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsNepal 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 171 23 20 ITTF ManualsNepal 2000 4North Korea 2003 ITTF Agreement 1 laptopNorth Korea 2002 ITTF Agreement ITTF Lab 4North Korea 2000 Olympic Games 1 laptop, printer, faxNorth Korea 1999 World Championships 1 laptopPakistan 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manualsPakistan 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 14 14Pakistan 2000 South Asia Champs,2000 6 150Palestine 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6 20 ITTF manualsPalestine 2000 6Phillipines 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manualsQatar 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manualsSri Lanka 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Butterfly donation 4 4 120 4 clothing, bags,Sri Lanka 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Newgy donation 1 RobopongSri Lanka 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Double Happiness 5 5 700 70 700 t-shirtsSri Lanka 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6Sri Lanka 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 100 25Sri Lanka 2003 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 100 2 6Sri Lanka 2000 4Syria 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6Tajikistan 2002 ITTF Agreement Iran 6 6 100 2 6Tajikistan 2001 ITTF Agreement 4Thailand 2005 ITTF Agreement US$2000 for tables 20 ITTF manualsThailand 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Stag donation 125 10 25 t-shirtsThailand 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Newgy donation 1 RobopongThailand 2005 Tsunami Rebuilding Butterfly donation 4 4 20 4Turkmenistan 1999 6 8 150 6 6Vietnam 2001 ITTFAgreement 4Yemen 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manualsYemen 2004 ITTF Agreement Stag 6 6 80 8 6Yemen 2003 Arab TTU Agreement Egypt 6Yemen 2001 ITTF Agreement 4


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EUROPE

The Europe Development Program is based on thehighly successful Eurokids and Eurotalents JuniorTraining Camps, co-ordinated by a full-timeDevelopment Manager and also includes an`Assistance Program’ for developing nations.

Daniela Dodean, recipient of an ITTF Scholarship

PHOTO BY MARIANN DOMONKOS

“With pleasure I experience the fact that European member associations acceptour development activities. Europe provides an example that `development’ canbe wide ranging as the needs of our members are quite different; we try to beas flexible as possible and I am positive that all European Associations can findactivities among our projects in which to participate"

Stefano Bosi (ITTF Continental Vice President Europe)PHOTO BY WWW.ALLTT.COM

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Eurokids 2004Three years on, by 2004 almost forty coun-tries had benefited from the programmewith the Eurokids Camp at the SportsCentre of Spartak, Hluk, Czech Republic in2004 seeing thirty-seven players and eight-een coaches from eighteen countries par-ticipating.

The local co-ordinator was AndreaBojkova who provided the perfect trainingenvironment and facilties with twenty tabletennis tables available plus a sauna, fitnessroom and outdoor sports grounds.

Head coach Jarek Kolodziejczyk createdan environment of co-operation amongstcountries, more commonly arch rivals.

On duty in Czech Republic as coacheswere many ex-national team players includ-ing the likes of Carl Prean of England.Therefore, with so many recently retiredtop players in action as coaches the oppor-tunity was too great to miss, and a “Pastversus Future” match of coaches againstplayers. The highly motivated juniors bene-fiting enormously from the lessons learnt intheir loss to the slower but wiser coaches.

Education of the players, is an impor-tant part of the programme and includesSports Sciences, English lessons, as well ascross-cultural co-operation and under-standing.

Since Eurokids started development hasbeen constant. Partnerships have beenformed in Asia, initially in China, and laterin South Korea; this not only helps thelevel of table tennis grow, it also enhancespersonal development. Meanwhile, in2003, the ETTU took the progressive stepof inviting Egypt to one of their camps,and this was followed in 2004 by invita-

EurokidsEurokids is a programme that has beendesigned to help the most promising boysand girls in the under twelve age grouprealise their full potential.

Under the direction of Zita Pidl, ETTUDevelopment Officer, the major aim of theprogramme is to select a number of highlytalented young players for several jointtraining camps at top European trainingcentres with the option of extending theireducation by learning languages andabout other country’s cultures.

Eurokids Goals......To motivate and encourage associa-tions and players to work in partnershipand join forces.......To create a situation where Europe'syoung players can progress to eventuallychallenge the best in the world.......To teach the players the most recenttable tennis techniques.......To educate players in coping with thedemands of professional sport.......To co-ordinate coaches’ opinions inorder to establish a common programmefor future training.

Eurokids 2001The programme started in 2001 with threetraining camps for children born after 30thJune 1988. The first was held in Terni inApril and was superbly organised by theItalian Federation.

Thirty-two children from eleven associ-ations (Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Cyprus, England, Estonia, France, Georgia,Italy, Lithuania and Poland) participatedunder the direction of two head coaches:Leszek Kucharski (Poland) and PhilippeMolodzoff (France).

The camp proved a great success andproved an education for all; for the organ-isers we learnt the areas in which we needto make progress, whilst for the playersthey learnt to communicate with eachother, despite language barriers and differ-ent social and economic backgrounds.

A minimum knowledge of the Englishlanguage for all participants is important inorder to improve the lines of communica-tion and enhance dialogue; however, themost important step that has to be madeis to encourage national associations towork with each other, by doing so every-one will benefit and table tennis will bethe winner.

Further training camps in 2001 wereheld in August in Luxembourg and inDecember in France.

EurokidsEurtalents

PHOTO BY STEPHAN ROSCHER

“Besides the obvious advantages of the national courses and assistance program, theEuropean associations have become accustomed to co-operating since the beginningof the ITTF/ETTU Development Program in 2001. Coaches, players and also officialstreat each other as potential partners for improvement, not as opponents only. Theunity of Europe in many important fields has started to be built"

Zita Pidl (European Table Tennis Union Development Officer)

tions being sent to Iran. Two girls and oneboy plus a coach accepted and were pres-ent in the Czech Republic.

The fact that two girls from Irantrained with the best of Europe was agreat opportunity for the girls whilst thefriendships formed and the greater under-standing between cultures and nations willbe something they will always remember.

Eurotalents 2004Eurotalents for players in their latter junioryears developed from the EurokidsProgramme.

Successful Eurotalents courses on theITTF/ETTU Programme were hosted in theCzech Republic, Poland and Slovakia in2004 as well as Eurokids Training Camps inRomania and Czech Republic.

One of the many reasons for the suc-cess of the Eurokids/Eurotalents Camps isthanks to Jarek Kolodziejczyk, the headcoach. Jarek forms a team with ETTUDevelopment Manager, Zita Pidl that hasoverseen and transformed this programmeinto a highly sought after part of the ETTUCalendar.

Jarek has a very strong technical base,but bringing the talented juniors andcoaches of Europe together in a spirit ofco-operation is perhaps a greater skill.The knowledge sharing and co-operativeapproach will certainly assist Europe toproduce world level players for many yearsto come.

The final camp of 2004 was a `TeamBonding’ camp for players competing inthe ETTU World Cadet Challenge Teamprior to the official ITTF World CadetChallenge Training Camp in Madeira.

Players at the first Eurokids Camp in 2001

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EUROPE

Eurotalents 2005A Eurotalents Training Camp was held onthe beautiful Portuguese island of Madeirafrom 26th September to 2nd October2005.

Coaching was under the direction ofJarek Kolodziejczk who was assisted by theCzech Republic’s Kamil Kountny.

On the first day of proceedings,Kolodziejczk gave a lecture to a group ofthirty Portuguese coaches in Funchal onthe subject of `Video Analysis, Importanceand Necessity’. The lecture was wellreceived and the training camp com-menced the following day in Ponta do Sol,approximately forty kilometres fromFunchal.

All present enjoyed the facilities provid-ed by the hotel where a swimming pool,sauna and whirlpool were made available,whilst the training hall was situated in aschool complex and boasted twenty tabletennis tables that were available through-out the course.

A major boost for the training campwas the presence of five Chinese playerswhose attendance had been organised bythe Madeira Table Tennis Association. Theywere all different in their style of play, sothe opportunity to practise against pen-holders, defenders and various types ofracket surface was afforded to the youngEuropeans.

On 1st October 2005 a Eurotalentstournament was held which provided anideal climax to the programme. Playerscompeted initially in groups before pro-ceeding to the knock-out stage.

Eurokids Plus Thirteen boys, twelve girls from twelvecountries attended the ETTU Eurokids PlusTraining Camp held at Club Bronowiankain Krakow in November 2005.

Organised by Marek Wnuk andAndrzej Wojtas, Jarek Kolodziejczyk wasthe head coach with the main goals ofimprove balance whilst playing over thetable and seizing the initiative when receiv-ing service.

A tournament was held on the lasttwo days; Poland’s Piotr Chodorski,Croatia’s Borna Kovac and Romania’sMikhail Sargu finished in the top threeplaces respectively, whilst the leading girlswere Slovakia's Barbora Balazova, Poland’sMagda Szczerkowska and Romania'sMelinda Curcui.

The tournament at Eurokids TrainingCamps has now become a standard fea-ture of the programme; the scheme is con-stantly reviewed and Eurokids has becomean established part of ETTU activities.

Kosovo Kosovo played in its first ever internationaltable tennis competition when the associa-tion competed in a tournament inLuxembourg on Saturday 1st and Sunday2nd November 2003.

The results gained may only have beenmodest but the opportunity to competeinternationally was the most importantfactor.

Meanwhile in 2004, six boys (AstritHasani, Betim Sejdiu, Arber Xheladini,Miftar Veliu, Betim Marevci, MustafeRecica) and seven girls (Vlora Ajeti, LuljetaHasani, Rexhbije Sejdiu, Bierta Abazi,Xhemile Hasani, Marigona Ismaili, NafijeMurati) started a new era for table tennisin Kosovo. They competed in the EuropeanYouth Championships in Budapest,Hungary.

There were no medals but simplybeing there was ample reward for thecountry Roman Plese visited in July 2004when he conducted a course in Ferizaj, atown of two hundred thousand people,

about forty-five kilometres from the capitalPrishtina. Twenty players, including the thir-teen who went to Budapest, plus tencoaches attended the course; as ever allworked extremely hard despite having toplay in temperatures reaching thirty-eightdegrees centigrade.

The conditions were tough but only aminor irritation when compared with thedifficulties inhabitants of the war torncountry have suffered in recent years. Theyhave now completed their first footsteps ininternational competition by playing in theEuropean Youth Championships and nodoubt they will be seen more often on theinternational scene in future years.

MaltaDavid Fairholm conducted Level One andLevel Two Coaching Courses for twenty-five Maltese coaches from October toDecember 2003. He visited ten schoolsgave demonstrations and co-ordinatedafter school coaching sessions whilst alsolecturing to sixty university students.

A break in training for players from Kosovo

Eurokids Plus Training Camp in November 2005

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ITTF/ETTU Development Program Courses

ITTF/ETTU Development Program Equipment Assistance

Country Date from Date to Course ExpertAlbania 28 May 2005 31 May 2005 Assistance Coaching Seminar Zita Pidl (HUN)Austria 20 Sep 2004 26 Sep 2004 Women’s Under 21 Training Camp Liu Yan Jun (AUT)Austria 25 Nov 2002 02 Dec 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp girls Zita Pidl (HUN)Azerbaijan 03 Oct 2003 10 Oct 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Belgium 27 Oct 2002 03 Nov 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp boys Zita Pidl (HUN)China 11 Aug 2002 31 Aug 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp boys and girls Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Viorel Filimon (ROU)

Zita Pidl (HUN)Croatia 28 Jan 2006 28 Jan 2006 Assistance Coaching Seminar Milan Stencil (HRV)Czech Republic 27 Jan 2006 02 Feb 2006 Eurokids Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Czech Republic 06 Sep 2004 12 Sep 2004 Eurokids Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Czech Republic 15 Mar 2004 22 Mar 2004 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczjk (POL)Czech Republic 08 Sep 2003 15 Sep 2003 Eurokids Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Czech Republic 10 Mar 2003 17 Mar 2003 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl [HUN]Czech Republic 09 Sep 2002 16 Sep 2002 Eurokids Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL) Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)

Zita Pidl (HUN)Czech Republic 21 Mar 2005 27 Mar 2005 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)England 12 Mar 2005 13 Mar 2005 ITTF Women’s Course Dorte Kronsell (DEN)ETTU-Korea 03 Aug 2003 18 Aug 2003 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)France 19 Aug 2005 25 Aug 2005 Eurokids Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)France 17 Oct 2005 22 Oct 2005 WCC Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Gundars Rusis (LAT)

Zita Pidl (HUN)France 15 Dec 2001 22 Dec 2001 Eurokids Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL) Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)

Zita Pidl (HUN)Israel 04 Feb 2001 18 Feb 2001 High Performance Coaching Course Mikael Andersson (SWE)Italy 11 Apr 2001 18 Apr 2001 Eurokids Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL) Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)

Zita Pidl (HUN)Jersey 01 Aug 2005 07 Aug 2005 Assistance Coaching Seminar Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Jersey 17 Jul 2004 24 Jul 2004 Assistance Coaching Seminar Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)Kosovo 01 Jul 2004 10 Jul 2004 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Kosovo 31 May 2003 09 Jun 2003 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Kosovo 13 Feb 2002 24 Feb 2002 ITTF Development Project Roman Plese (HRV)Luxembourg 12 Aug 2001 19 Aug 2001 Eurokids Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL) Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)

Zita Pidl (HUN)Malta 16 Oct 2005 23 Oct 2005 Assistance Coaching Seminar Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL)Malta 06 Oct 2003 01 Dec 2003 Olympic Solidarity DNCS David Fairholm (ENG)Malta 01 Dec 2000 03 Dec 2000 Olympic Solidarity Antonella Flori (ITA)Poland 21 Nov 2005 27 Nov 2005 Eurokids Plus Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Poland 07 Jun 2004 13 Jun 2004 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczjk (POL)Portugal 26 Sep 2005 02 Oct 2005 Eurotalents Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Portugal 28 Sep 2005 02 Oct 2005 Assistance Coaching Seminar Mario Amizic (HRV)Portugal 19 Jun 2004 20 Jun 2004 Assistance Coaching Seminar Mario Amizic (HRV)Portugal 20 Oct 2004 24 Oct 2004 WCC Cadet Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Gundars Rusis (LAT)Portugal 06 Oct 2003 13 Oct 2003 Eurotalents Training Camp-boys Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Romania 31 Jan 2005 06 Feb 2005 Eurokids Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Romania 02 Feb 2004 08 Feb 2004 Eurokids Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Romania 29 Apr 2003 04 May 2003 Eurokids Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Slovakia 04 Oct 2004 10 Oct 2004 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Slovakia 16 Sep 2003 16 Sep 2003 Coach Education Regional Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Slovakia 11 Feb 2002 17 Feb 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp girls Zita Pidl (HUN)Slovenia 31 Oct 2005 05 Nov 2005 ITTF Women’s Course Branka Batinic (HRV) Gordana Furjan-Mardic (HRV)

Eva Jeler (SVN)Slovenia 16 Jan 2005 16 Jan 2005 Assistance Coaching Seminar Zoran Kalinic (SCG)Slovenia 05 Apr 2004 11 Apr 2004 Eurochamps Training Camp (with Korea) Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)Slovenia 24 Nov 2003 30 Nov 2003 Eurokids Plus Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Slovenia 14 Apr 2003 20 Apr 2003 Eurotalents Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Zita Pidl (HUN)Slovenia (with China) 15 Apr 2002 21 Apr 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp boys and girls Zita Pidl (HUN)Spain 05 Dec 2004 08 Dec 2004 Assistance Coaching Seminar Carole Seve (FRA)Spain 11 Mar 2002 18 Mar 2002 Eurotalents Training Camp boys Zita Pidl (HUN)Turkey 20 Feb 2002 27 Feb 2002 Eurokids Training Camp Leszek Kucharski (POL) Phillipe Molodzoff (FRA)

Zita Pidl (HUN)

Country Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables OtherAlbania 2005 ITTF Agreement Cornilleau 5 5 50 1.5 5Armenia 2000 3 3 75 3 3Azerbaijan 2003 Stadium Opening Joola 7 7 75 7 7Azerbaijan 2000 3 3 75 10 3 3Belarus 2004 ITTF-ETTU Agreement FFTT donation 5 5 50 1.4 5Estonia 2001 ITTF Agreement 4ETTU 2000 750 rubbersETTU 1999 US$2000Georgia 2000 3 3 75 3 3Kosovo 2004 ITTF/ETTU Agreement FFTT donation 5 5 50 1.4 5Latvia 2005 ITTF Agreement Cornilleau 5 5 50 1.5 5Latvia 2000 3 3 75 3 3Lithuania 2004 ITTF/ETTU Agreement ITTF Lab 6 6Macedonia 2004 China TTA Assistance China TTA 10 10 100 100Malta 2004 ITTF/ETTU Agreement FFTT donation 5 5 50 1.4 5Malta 2003 Small Nation Games Joola US$2000Moldova 2000 3 3 75 3 3Slovenia 2005 ITTF Agreement Cornilleau 5 5 50 1.5 5Spain 1999 International Training Centre 20 24 500 20 20 40 Towel boxesUkraine 2000 5 6 125 5 5

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LATINAMERICA

The Latin American Development Program includesan International Training Centre, full timeDevelopment Officer conducting courses across thecontinent, equipment assistance, junior trainingcamps, `My Champion School’ and marketing.

Colombia’s Paula Medinawho gained an ITTF

ScholarshipPHOTO BY IVAN STORTI

PHOTO BY CHINA TTA

“The ITTF Development Program is really changing the history of table tennis in LatinAmerica. In the last five years we have introduced, through the different developmentprograms, more than five hundred thousand children to table tennis and the educationprograms have involved more that two thousand coaches, umpires, officials, monitorsand referees. Thanks ITTF!

Miguel Delgado (ITTF Continental Vice President Latin America)PHOTO BY WWW.ALLTT.COM

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good for the future of table tennis in theregion.

Barbados Coaches from Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago,Puerto Rico, Dominica and Cuba attendedan ITTF Level One Course held at theUniversity of the West Indies in Barbados inSeptember 2005.

Under the direction of Glenn Tepper,ITTF Development Manager, it was the firstsuch course to be organised in the region.

In addition an ITTF DevelopmentWorkshop was held to enable Caribbeancountries to understand the ITTFDevelopment Program and the assistanceavailable.

Furthermore, certain coaches wereselected to undergo two days of intensive`ITTF Level One Course Presenter’ training.

Costa RicaAbilio de Cruz conducted an OlympicSolidarity Course in Costa Rica in May2000. The programme covered sixty hoursteaching, with the major topics on theagenda focusing on physical and tacticalareas. Also, it was the first time the 40mmball had been used in Costa Rica.

Further courses were taken in 2000 byEvelio Alavarez, the LATTU DevelopmentOfficer, whilst in 2002 and 2004 FranCamargo led a Marketing Course.

DominicaThe late Roy Pugh conducted an OlympicSolidarity Course in Dominica in January1999; the venue being the Church Hall, St.Mary’s Academy in Roseau.

Twenty-eight children attended the firstday, the numbers increasing to forty on the

Latin America`My School, Latin American Table TennisChampion’, is one of the major pro-grammes of the Latin American TableTennis Union and was started in 2000.

The objectives are to: increase the pop-ularity of table tennis in Latin America andto increase the number of children takingpart in table tennis. The Latin AmericanTable Tennis Union and its member associa-tions take table tennis to schools that chil-dren aged between eight and twelve yearsold attend.

During 2000 and 2001, many countriesjoined the programme with the aim of ful-filling the two main objectives of increasingpopularity and participation in table tennis.

Costa Rica has linked the scheme tothe Ministry of Education whilst inGuatemala it is supported by the govern-ing body of all the sports organisations inthe country, Conader. Meanwhile, in Cubathe programme is supported directly by theNational Sports Institute, INDER; in ElSalvador it is organised by its table tennisfederation.

Other countries have been able todevelop the programme by means of spon-sorship and agreements with companieswho have helped financially or contributedby donating equipment.

After two years of the scheme, overone hundred schools participated, includ-ing: Sonny Bilïngue Cartago School, CostaRica, Liceo Getsemani & España FirstSchool, El Salvador, Jefferson School,Ecuador, Nacaome School, Honduras,Panamanian Chinese Cultural CentrePanama, La Salle School, DominicanRepublic American School, Colombia,El Progreso School, Guatemala andAntonio Maceo School, Cuba.

The result is that in the eight to twelveage group five hundred thousand childrenin Latin America had participated by 2005;a very successful scheme that can only be

PHOTO BY GLENN TEPPER

A demonstration by Glenn Tepper at the ITTF Level One Course in Barbados in 2005

PHOTOBY G

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following days. The major problem facingthe coach was equipment, with only sevenrackets and two tables being available atthe start of the course. Abraham Brownacted as a practice partner and managedto acquire a further table tennis table andeight rackets.

In addition to the coaching for juniors,senior sessions were held with twenty-eight players of varying standards attend-ing. The majority were teachers but thecourse could only last ten hours with manyfinding it difficult to gain release fromwork.

Therefore, Roy Pugh concentrated onthe four basic strokes plus service andreceive and concluded the programmewith a question and answer session.

The course members displayed a goodunderstanding and left being able to deliv-er instruction on the fundamentals of thesport in their own districts.

Three years later (5th August-5thNovember 2002) Dave Fairholm visitedDominica to deliver an Olympic SolidarityDeveloping a National Coaching StructureProgram course.

Training sessions for players of all stan-dards were being organised in the capital,Roseau with beginners and intermediatelevel players having an hour long sessioneach on Mondays, Wednesdays andFridays whilst for the senior players a twohour long session had been instigated oneach weekday evening.

Furthermore, a regular weekly GrandPrix tournament was being held onSundays with thirty-eight players havingcompeted in the three categories. ByAugust 2002, a total of fifty-one playershad registered for training whilst thirty-eight players had competed in the tourna-ments.

Fifty-one students enrolled for thecoaching course making it a busy time forDave Fairholm, who also accompanied theseven member Dominican team to the15th Organisation of Eastern CaribbeanStates Tournament in St. Vincent (24th-28th October); an event in which Dominicadid exceptionally well, particularly in thewomen's events.

Visit to schools formed a significantpart of Dave Fairholm’s programme.Priority was given to schools with tablesalthough some had to improvise.Meanwhile, a Coaches Workshop washeld, with those schools who had shown acommitment to promoting table tennisbeing designated to receive tables as partof the Latin American Table Tennis Union’s`My Champion School’ project.

Nineteen people attended; fifteenreceived Leaders/Teachers Certificates whilethree received Club Coaching Certificates.

Latin AmericaBarbados

Costa RicaDominica

The Latin American Table Tennis Union, formed thirty-two years ago, and their member countries,are very encouraged because of the achievements reached in all these years. One of the mainreasons is the implementation of the Development Program since 2000 for Latin America, anarea which did not previously have a defined work philosophy and not much development concerning organization and equipment needs.

Evelio Alvarez (Latin American Table Tennis Union Development Officer)

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LATINAMERICA

much credit for making sure that any suchproblems were overcome must go toAlfonso Saravia from the GuatemalanNational Olympic Committee, his superborganisational skills assured the smoothrunning of the course.

President of the Latin American TableTennis Union, Miguel Delgado, was presentat the course in Guatemala, which likeother courses in Latin America, had onemajor factor in common; a passion fortable tennis. A fact that suggests thefuture for the sport in Guatemala and inLatin America is bright, very bright.

PeruThe success of the ITTF High PerformanceProgramme was clearly shown in August1999, when a record number of sixty-seven coaches from seven countriesattended the one week course in Chozicajust outside Lima in Peru.

Conducted by Mikael Andersson, theimpressive technical support from the localorganisers and help from the PeruvianOlympic Committee set the stage for agood course. Ten sessions of three hourswith fifty per cent ofthe time practicallyoriented was thebasis of the pro-gramme. The responsewas not only good, it wasvery good. The mood was oneof optimism, positive coaches,grateful coaches and criticalcoaches discussing table tennisand the improvement ofplayers.

“Educated in a countrywhere winning world titlescertifies you as good coach,it takes some time tounderstand the realityof our sport”, saidMikael Andersson.“There are manycoaches who dotremendous work tokeep our sport alive inall parts of theworld; withoutdoubt, credit must goto them.”

Sweden has arecord of success in table

EcuadorThirty-six members of the Ecuador TableTennis Federation attended an OlympicSoldarity Course in Guayaquil in July 2000with sixty-five hours being devoted to prac-tical work and twenty-one hours to theory.

The course was led by Abilio de Cruzwho returned to Ecuador in September2003 to teach a High Performance Courseand in September 2004 to conduct a fur-ther Olympic Solidarity Course.

Meanwhile, in July 2001, Evelio Alvarezled an ITTF Development Project Course inEcuador and in October 2005, FranCamargo conducted a Marketing Course.

El Salvador Sixteen coaches (nine from El Salvador, twofrom the Dominican Republic, one fromeach of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua,Costa Rica and Aruba) attended the inter-national table tennis coaching course in ElSalvador in June 2003.

Carlos Esnard, the Technical Director ofthe El Salvador Table Tennis Federation wasthe course organiser and the expert wasAbilio Cruz.

Several further courses were held in ElSalvador with a Training Camp prior to theITTF World Junior Circuit event in 2005being particularly successful.

The camp was conducted byEmmanuel Christiansson and Swedishinternational, Peter Karlsson and surely setnew records in terms of numbers. No lessthan ninety-four young players attended!

GuatemalaTwenty-five coaches from twenty countriesattended the ITTF Level One CoachingCourse in Guatemala in October 2005; thecourse was under the direction of Brazil’sMarles Martins with Cuba’s Hugo Perez deCorcho of Cuba assisting.

The ITTF Level One Coaching Manualwas distributed and was made available forcourse participants in Spanish.

Furthermore, advanced coaching ses-sions were held as well as `My ChampionSchool’ information being disseminated.

Several Caribbean countries such asSaint Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, SaintLucia and Haiti were present in Guatemalabeing led by very interested and motivatedcoaches. It was very pleasing to note thatthis group of coaches, who were presentat the course left Guatemala with a newmotivation and many new ideas on whichto work.

It was quite remarkable that the coursein Guatemala even took place with thecountry having been hit by Hurricane Stan;

tennis that few can match so what aboutthe future of table tennis in Peru? “Moreco-operation on a youth level; there is nolack of talented table tennis players but theorganisation with regards to a calendarand joint activities has to be better”, con-tinued Mikael Andersson. “Coach educa-tion is important; therefore, we need tothink about a possible ITTF certificationmodel.”

The advice of Mikael Andersson wassoon heeded with the ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual and the ITTF CoachEducation scheme being designed in theensuing years.

“ITTF World Youth Events can play abig role for smaller countries who have tal-ented players; a good result in a worldevent can open doors to better financialsupport”, explained Mikael Andersson. “Inmy opinion it is clear that the ITTF can andwill play a major role in developing oursport in Latin America and Africa, with theITTF Development Plan we have a goodprogramme to accommodate the needs inweaker continents within the InternationalTable Tennis Federation.”

The venue for the course was thebeautiful country club `El Bosque’ possess-ing all the necessary facilities to run a firstclass course. Coaches from Peru, Chile,Ecuador, Cuba, El Salvador, Venezuela andColombia attended and the success of thecourse certainly proved that Latin America

has the ability to organise high

Ecuador El SalvadorGuatemala Peru

PHOTO BY TTF GUATEMALA

Mikael Andersson withdancers dressed in localcostume in Peru in 1999

PHOTO BY PERU TTF

Marles Martins in Guatemala 2005

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class events professionally. A most worthwhile course and in

November 2004 Roman Plese conducted aHigh Performance Course for coaches inLima, Peru with the final day seeing atraining session organised for a group ofvery talented young players.

One year later, the Peruvian NationalOlympic Committee organised an OlympicSolidarity Course in September 2005; thecourse was well received with more thanthirty-five coaches from seven differentprovinces participating.

Subject matter for the first four days ofthe course was the ITTF Level OneCoaching Program. Staged at the PeruvianNational Olympic Headquarters, theremaining six days concentrated on highlevel coaching.

The conductor of the course was theMarles Martins.

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico dominated the CaribbeanJunior Championships in Barbados in 2005,showing a professional team approach andunity as well as good technique.

The experienced Ivan Santos, VicePresident of the Puerto Rico Table TennisFederation and Bladimir Dias, NationalJunior Coach, both attended the ITTF LevelOne Course Presenters Course held afterthe Championships in October.

Puerto Rico, a small, picturesque,island, has nearly twenty permanenttable tennis venues, an OlympicSports School and Training Centrewhich includes table tennis and acommitted group of coaches andadministrators.

The young and highly moti-vated Minister of Sport andRecreation, David Bernier, wasvery positive about workingtogether with the national fed-eration to popularise table ten-nis in the primary schools. Aprogramme is envisagedwhich educates school teach-ers to teach table tennis usinglimited equipment, as well aslooking at methods to assistelite development, is envisaged.

President of the Puerto RicoTable Tennis Federation is AngeloMedina, a person with a highprofile in sport and entertainmentpromotion. He is the person whobrought Ricky Martin to the world;his promotional ability and connec-tions will certainly be a hugebonus for any ITTF events heldhere in the future.

St Vincent & The Grenadines `Developing a National Sports Structure’Olympic Solidarity Course is arguably themost beneficial and successful of theOlympic Solidarity Programmes owing tothe lasting legacy and combination ofactions to assist the association.

However, ITTF expert, Ahmed Dawlatlydid not expect that would include paintingthe floor where the training occurred in hisSt Vincent & the Grenadines course whichcommenced in July 2005 and concluded atthe end of November.

Co-ordinated by the president of thenational association, Sean Stanley, every-one was involved in the repairs. President,administrators, national team, junior play-ers and Ahmed Dawlatly all co-operated.The course was well organised, coveringcoach education, senior and junior trainingand assisting develop a long term plan.

Talented young players, Richard Morrisand Kamal Hunte worked hard with bothbrush and racket and competed in theCaribbean Junior Championships in 2005.Meanwhile, two local coaches had spentthree months attending a coach educationcourse in Hungary whilst Sean Stanley andCarlton Daniel had been studying in Cuba.

A part of the itinerary for AhmedDawlatly was to visit the Liberty LodgeBoys’ Training Centre, a unique establish-ment designed to provide a caring environ-ment for boys aged seven to sixteen yearsof age who have social, emotional andbehavioural difficulties

Ahmed Dawlatly gave a coachingcourse at the school and the head of theschool, Massa Kato, was very pleased. Theboys responded and behaved well; as aresult Ahmed Dawlatly promised to returnthe next time he is in St Vincent.

Puerto RicoSt Kitts & NevisSt Vincent

St Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies, playedhost to an ITTF/IOC Olympic SolidarityCoaches Course in August 2004.

Laverne Merritt from St Kitts and NevisTable Tennis Association planned and liasedwith the ITTF for many months prior to thecourse, the result being a well organisedprogramme. USATT Coach, Richard

McAfee, conducted theCourse being the

fourth time he hadconducted coursesin the region. TheSt. Kitts and Nevis

Table TennisAssociation is a relative-

ly new organisation and isdisplaying a very positive atti-

tude. Twenty-four aspiring coach-es took part in the course, which

was taught in two sessions a dayto accom-

modatethepar-

ticipants various work-ing schedules. Six of the partici-

pants were women and the coursemade use of the ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual, a publicationthat was very well received by all.The St. Kitts and Nevis TableTennis Association aims to holdmajor events in the future andhas received help from bothTamasu Butterfly and Newgy intheir efforts to promote tabletennis.

Newgy Industries and Butterfly-On-Line donated equipment valued

at over US$2,000.

Exercising control at the course in St Vincent & The Grenadines in 2005

PHOTO BY ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES TTA

A smiling face greeted Ahmed Dawlatly in St Vincent & The Grenadines

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LATINAMERICA

The goal of my course was to drawattention to the sport of table tennis andfocus on its development. “The partici-pants came from many parts of Uruguay:Soriano, San José, Colonia, Artigas,Canelones and obviously from the capital,Montevideo”, said Maria. “I had the possi-bility to contribute to the spreading of thissport by working with people who willnow take charge in developing table tennisprojects of their own.”

Understandably, the first step for Mariawas to gain the confidence of the studentswith whom she was working but this didnot take long. “In the beginning, the par-ticipants on my course had trouble in giv-ing their honest opinion on the practicalpresentations that were held during theworkshops”, she said. “However, in thecourse of the days they made hugeprogress and I could see that they felt

UruguayMaria Häfeli, educated in Peru, Moscowand Switzerland and with a strong coach-ing background, conducted an OlympicSolidarity Course in Uruguay in September2005. It was her second venture as an ITTFCourse Conductor, the previous experiencebeing in Congo DR

The course was held in Montevideoand Maria’s extensive language skills plusher table tennis knowledge makes her anideal person to deliver courses that are partof the ITTF Development Program. She livesin Switzerland and has a good commandof no less than seven languages, Maria isan ideal worldwide presenter, having com-pleted her last course in Congo DR in lateApril, early May 2005.

“In the Guarani language, Uruguaymeans river of the painted birds",explained Maria. “The colourful plumageof the native birds must have surely daz-zled the first inhabitants of this territoryand history took over that name todescribe this beautiful country.”

Montevideo has the rare privilege ofhaving a beach longer than twenty kilome-tres and when it comes to music anddance, the `Tango’ like the `Candombe’ arethe two national rhythms from Uruguay.Furthermore, the Uruguayans are genialhosts and naturally friendly, a fact thatMaria was able to confirm even before thecourse had started.

“I can confirm their warmness becausethe first day I arrived at the UruguayanAirport, the members of the UruguayanTable Tennis Federation Roberto Migliettiand David Barnás plus from the NationalOlympic Committee Carlos Mazza, all wel-comed me with open arms. I felt instantlyat home”, she explained.

more confident about the methodologyapplied during the course and the qualityof their comments was much better.”

A pleasing aspect of the course wasthe provision made to coach girls. “Agroup of girls between six and eight yearsold visited us; they wanted to acquire aninsight into table tennis”, explained Maria,who organised for some of the studentsattending the course to try their skills.

“Two participants took charge of thegroup and they did a one hour session”,explained Maria and of course she waskeen to discover as to whether the girlshad enjoyed the training.

“When they finished the training theywere asked to comment on how they likedtable tennis”, said Maria. “One of themtook the floor and said I want to continuepractising table tennis and I don’t want togo to my swimming course anymore!"

The comment caused laughteramongst the coaches but of course it washigh praise for their efforts; they had clear-ly performed well and the young lady washighly motivated.

Preferring table tennis to swimmingunderlined the attitude of those presentand Maria was delighted with the responseshe had received from the students.

“I must congratulate all my pupils andsincerely wish them a great deal of successin achieving their goals”, she said. “Owingto this course they will continue with theirdedication and enthusiasm in differentparts of Uruguay.”

The course no doubt has had an effecton table tennis in Uruguay and Maria islooking forward to returning one day. “Ihope to see them in the next course”, shesmiled. “Also, I promised them that I willtake Tango lessons in Zürich until then!”The happy faces reflect the warm welcome that Maria Häfeli received in Montivedeo

Everyone was enthusiastic and the young girls in particular enjoyed playing table tennis

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Venezuela A country with an innovative programme;Venezuela has its own version of the ITTFPro Tour.

Six events are hosted annually, each ina different state to maximize table tennisexposure. Thirty-two teams of three playersare selected by the national federation,with one player from the national squad oftwelve men and twelve women; one playerfrom the second group of twenty-fourplayers and one junior. There are eightgroups of four with two teams progressingto the round of sixteen, knockout stage.

Men and women play together, withthree singles matches per teams match. Nocoaches are allowed to advise, so the play-ers must think for themselves.

Fabiola Ramos undoubtedly the bestplayer to emerge from Venezuela in recentyears believes the competition to be ofgreat value. “It is very good for all theplayers of different levels to play togetherin a professional environment which pro-vides an added competitive pressure”, shesaid. “It’s also a great exposure for ouryoung players and allows the women tocompete at a higher intensity in regards tospeed and spin".

Fabiola, had her best year in 2003,when she was Latin American, SouthAmerican and Central AmericanChampion as well as finishing thir-teenth in the Women's World Cup. Atthe Venezuelan Championships, anevent she has won nine times, herprizes include a car and an apartment.

Television and media provide goodcoverage of the event in excellent per-manent venues. The infrastructure,finances and venues are there; it wouldseem it is only a matter of time before

country’s twenty-four states. “Each had asporting complex which included a largemulti-purpose venue that could easily hosta World Junior Circuit or ITTF Pro Tourevent with a ready made infrastructure inplace in each state federation”, Glennexplained. “In addition, the main sportsincluding table tennis all have permanentvenues with four or five full time coachesworking, as well as a sports hotel to caterfor fulltime athletes, training camps andtournaments.”

The Venezuelan Federation is headedby the highly respected Oswaldo `Papelon’Borges, Minister of Sport for Venezuela,1979-83 and himself a National Volleyballhero, as well as being President of theSouth America Table Tennis Federation(Latin America is divided into SouthAmerica, Central America and Caribbean).

Meanwhile, the Technical Director ofVenezuela and South America Federationsis Pancho Seijas. He is the Sports Directorfor Caracas University whilst his motherhas been the Venezuelan TTF President fortwelve years; furthermore his sister hasplayed internationally.

Pancho spent ten years in Sweden inthe 1980s, an influence he draws on heav-ily. The Sweden connection has beenstrong with Venezuela regularly havingSwedish Coaches such as Kjell-ÅkeWaldner and Christer Johansson conduct-ing courses.

Table tennis in Venezuela has a soundorganisation, the next stage is to targetfive thousand school children to popularisethe sport at grass roots level whilst alsohosting ITTF Junior Circuit and ITTF ProTour events.

No doubt, with the support they havefrom the Government, Olympic Committeeand Sports Institute plus the structure and

venues, they will host such events to thevery highest level.

Venezuela

Venezuela joins the ITTF Junior Circuit andITTF Pro Tour.

Media coverage is essential to sportand when Glenn Tepper, ITTF DevelopmentManager, visited in October 2005 to con-duct an Olympic Solidarity Course, televi-sion was there to greet him!

“No sooner had I cleared customs,after the forty hour flight and being greet-ed with the warm Venezuelan hospitality,than a television crew arrived requesting aninterview”, he explained. Venezuela has awell organised table tennis federation withresources and a structure that would bethe envy of most federations worldwideand a model which others can follow.

The main aim of the course, which sawcoaches from all twenty-four states inVenezuela attend plus twofurther coaches fromChile, was to intro-duce the new ITTFCoachAccreditation sys-tem and to trainCourseConductors.However, beforethe course beganGlenn visitedfive of the

Young players in Venezuela, a country with a structure that bodes well for the future

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Fabiola Ramos, the leading lady in VenezuelaPHOTO BY RÉMY GROS

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ITTF/LATTU Development Program Courses


Country Date from Date to Course Expert

Argentina 18 Nov 2005 27 Nov 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Argentina 14 Apr 2004 21 Apr 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Argentina 26 Apr 2004 30 Apr 2004 ITTF Junior Training Camp Marles Martins (BRA)

Argentina 28 Nov 2004 05 Dec 2004 Olympic Solidarity Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Argentina 01 Dec 2003 07 Dec 2003 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Argentina 26 May 2003 10 Jun 2003 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Argentina 10 Dec 2000 18 Dec 2000 High Performance Coaching Course Roman Plese (HRV)

Barbados 07 Sep 2005 12 Sep 2005 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (HRV)

Barbados 5 Sep 2005 13 Sep 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Barbados 21 Nov 2003 01 Dec 2003 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Bolivia 25 Apr 2003 05 May 2003 Olympic Solidarity Regional Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Bolivia 9 Oct 2002 14 Oct 2002 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Bolivia 1 Dec 2000 08 Dec 2000 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese [CRO]

Brazil 14 Jul 2005 30 Jul 2005 International Training CentreTraining Camp Marles Martins (BRA) Fran Camargo (BRA)

Brazil 5 Sep 2005 07 Sep 2005 WJC Junior Training Camp Marles Martins (BRA)

Brazil 23 Mar 2005 04 Apr 2005 International Training CentreTraining Camp Marles Martins (BRA) Fran Camargo (BRA)

Brazil 27 Aug 2005 04 Sep 2005 International Training CentreTraining Camp Marles Martins (BRA) Fran Camargo (BRA)

Brazil 01 Jul 2004 07 Jul 2004 ITTF Women's Course Polona Cehovin Susin (SVN)

Brazil 03 Sep 2004 07 Sep 2004 ITTF Junior Training Camp Marles Martins (BRA)

Brazil 25 Aug 2004 09 Sep 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Brazil 01 Jan 2003 31 Dec 2003 International Training Centre-1000 days

Brazil 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 International Training Centre-1000 days

Brazil 21 May 2002 30 May 2002 High Level Coaching Roman Plese (HRV)

Brazil 29 Nov 2001 09 Dec 2001 Olympic Solidarity Fran Camargo (BRA)

Brazil 25 Apr 2000 29 Apr 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Chile 10 Jul 2004 20 Jul 2004 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (CUB)

Chile 12 Feb 2004 23 Feb 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Chile 11 Dec 2003 13 Dec 2003 WJC Training Camp

Chile 6 Jan 2003 6 Mar 2003 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Chile 31 May 2002 9 Jun 2002 High Level Coaching Roman Plese (HRV)

Chile 29 Nov 2001 10 Dec 2001 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Chile 1 Dec 2001 20 Dec 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Colombia 08 Dec 2004 12 Dec 2004 Olympic Solidarity Marles Martins (BRA)

Colombia 21 Nov 2003 26 Nov 2003 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Colombia 01 Nov 2002 07 Nov 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (ESP)

Colombia 25 Mar 2001 13 Apr 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Colombia 01 Jul 2000 09 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity David Fairholm (ENG)

Costa Rica 22 Jul 2004 27 Jul 2004 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Costa Rica 1 Dec 2002 7 Dec 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (ESP)

Costa Rica 13 May 2000 20 May 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Costa Rica 12 Aug 2000 30 Aug 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Costa Rica 28 May 2000 2 Jun 2000 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Cuba 04 Mar 2006 09 Mar 2006 ITTF Development Project-ITTF Level 1 Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Cuba 17 Apr 2005 21 Apr 2005 ITTF Junior Training Camp Rodolfo Valdes (CUB)

Cuba 10 Nov 2003 20 Nov 2003 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Cuba 12 Jun 2003 20 Jun 2003 Olympic Solidarity Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Cuba 25 May 2001 08 Jun 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Cuba 01 Mar 2001 21 Mar 2001 ITTF Women's Course Deng Yaping (CHN)

Cuba 09 Oct 2000 14 Oct 2000 Olympic Solidarity Mikael Andersson (SWE)

Cuba 21 May 2000 11 Jun 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Dominica 20 Feb 2006 25 Feb 2006 Olympic Solidarity-ITTF Level 1 Richard McAfee (USA)

Dominica 29 Jul 2003 8 Aug 2003 Olympic Solidarity Peter McQueen (ENG)

Dominica 5 Aug 2002 5 Nov 2002 Olympic Solidarity DNCS David Fairholm (ENG)

Dominica 9 Jan 1999 19 Jan 1999 Olympic Solidarity Roy Pugh (ENG)

Dominican Republic 21 Oct 2005 30 Oct 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Dominican Republic 08 Nov 2002 15 Nov 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (ESP)

Dominican Republic 06 Sep 2000 26 Sep 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Ecuador 20 Oct 2005 24 Oct 2005 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Ecuador 13 Sep 2004 19 Sep 2004 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Ecuador 17 Sep 2003 25 Sep 2003 High Performance Coaching Course Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Ecuador 20 Jun 2001 6 Jul 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Ecuador 03 Jul 2000 18 Jul 2000 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (ESP)

El Salvador 8 Aug 2005 10 Aug 2005 WJC Junior Training Camp Emanuel Christiansson (SWE) Peter Karlsson (SWE)

El Salvador 28 Jul 2005 14 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

El Salvador 01 Apr 2003 09 Apr 2003 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

El Salvador 23 Jun 2003 29 Jun 2003 Olympic Solidarity Regional Abilio Cruz (ESP)

El Salvador 23 Nov 2002 30 Nov 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

El Salvador 13 May 2002 18 May 2002 Olympic Solidarity Gail McCulloch (ENG)

El Salvador 26 Aug 2001 31 Aug 2001 High Performance Coaching Course Mikael Andersson (SWE)

El Salvador 08 May 2000 12 May 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

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ITTF/LATTU Development Program Courses Country Date from Date to Course Expert

Guatemala 15 Aug 2005 20 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Guatemala 03 Oct 2005 10 Oct 2005 Olympic Solidarity Marles Martins (BRA)

Guatemala 12 Jul 2004 18 Jul 2004 Olympic Solidarity Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Guatemala 08 Mar 2002 11 Mar 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Guatemala 06 Feb 2001 11 Feb 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Guatemala 30 Apr 2000 07 May 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Guyana 16 Feb 2005 22 Feb 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Guyana 03 Aug 2002 13 Aug 2002 High Level Coaching Roman Plese (HRV)

Guyana 05 Sep 2002 15 Sep 2002 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Guyana 26 Jul 1999 07 Aug 1999 Olympic Solidarity Peter McQueen (ENG)

Haiti 25 Sep 2004 01 Oct 2004 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Haiti 24 Jun 2004 30 Jun 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Haiti 07 Jul 2003 12 Jul 2003 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Honduras 18 Dec 2004 21 Dec 2004 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Honduras 26 Jan 2001 05 Feb 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Jamaica 26 Sep 2004 03 Oct 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Jamaica 13 Jun 2003 20 Jun 2003 High Performance Coaching Course Roman Plese (HRV)

Jamaica 10 May 2002 20 May 2002 Olympic Solidarity Roman Plese (HRV)

Jamaica 11 Nov 1999 30 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Milivoj Karakasevic (SCG)

LATTU 01 Jan 2003 31 Dec 2003 My Champion School

LATTU 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 My Champion School

Mexico 04 Oct 2004 08 Oct 2004 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Mexico 29 Sep 2003 06 Oct 2003 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Mexico 20 Jan 2003 25 Jan 2003 Olympic Solidarity Regional Mikael Andersson (SWE)

Mexico 20 Jul 2001 31 Jul 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Nicaragua 10 Jan 2002 20 Jan 2002 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Panama 14 Dec 2004 16 Dec 2004 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Panama 31 Aug 2000 05 Sep 2000 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Paraguay 8 Sep 2005 12 Sep 2005 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Paraguay 6 Feb 2002 19 Feb 2002 Olympic Solidarity Abilio Cruz (ESP)

Paraguay 26 Sep 2002 09 Oct 2002 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Peru 17 Sep 2005 26 Sep 2005 Olympic Solidarity Marles Martins (BRA)

Peru 30 May 2005 06 Jun 2005 ITTF Development Project-Umpires Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Peru 05 Nov 2004 12 Nov 2004 High Performance Coaching Course Roman Plese (HRV)

Peru 15 Sep 2003 21 Sep 2003 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Peru 23 Aug 1999 27 Aug 1999 Olympic Solidarity Mikael Andersson (SWE)

Puerto Rico 16 Nov 2002 23 Nov 2002 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Puerto Rico 22 Oct 2005 25 Oct 2005 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 15 Sep 2005 19 Sep 2005 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 16 Aug 2004 25 Aug 2004 Olympic Solidarity Richard McAfee (USA)

St. Lucia 4 Apr 1999 10 Apr 1999 Olympic Solidarity Derek Destang (USA)

St. Vincent 16 Aug 1999 27 Aug 1999 Olympic Solidarity Richard McAfee (USA)

St. Vincent 22 Jul 2005 25 Nov 2005 Olympic Solidarity Ahmed Dawlatly (EGY)

St. Vincent 14 Jul 2002 28 Jul 2002 Olympic Solidarity Richard McAfee (USA)

Trinidad and Tobago 9 Jul 2005 12 Jul 2005 ITTF Women's Course Branka Batinic (HRV)

Trinidad and Tobago 5 Jul 2005 12 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Trinidad and Tobago 1 Aug 2004 8 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Trinidad and Tobago 2 Aug 2004 6 Aug 2004 Marketing Fran Camargo (BRA)

Trinidad and Tobago 14 Aug 2002 24 Aug 2002 High Performance Coaching Course Roman Plese (HRV)

Uruguay 28 Feb 2005 11 Mar 2005 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Uruguay 15 Oct 2005 23 Oct 2005 Olympic Solidarity Maria Isabel Vera Moyoli Häfeli (SUI)

Uruguay 18 Nov 2001 30 Nov 2001 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)

Venezuela 12 Oct 2005 20 Oct 2005 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Venezuela 16 May 2004 20 May 2004 ITTF Junior Training Camp Marles Martins (BRA)

Venezuela 9 May 2004 28 May 2004 ITTF Development Project Evelio Alvarez (CUB)


PHOTO BY COSTA RICA TTF PHOTO BY EL SALVADOR TTF

Costa Rica El Salvador

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Argentina 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 2

Aruba 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 3 ITTF manuals

Aruba 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Barbados 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 30 mauals

Barbados 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 robots

Barbados 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Barbados 2001 Latin American Championships Joola 6

Bolivia 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 8

Brazil 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Chile 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Chile 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Colombia 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

Colombia 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Colombia 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Costa Rica 2001 ITTF Agreement 40

Costa Rica 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 robots

Cuba 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 105 78

Cuba 2004 International School New Venue Butterfly Donation 12 12

Cuba 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Cuba 2001 Double Fish 60 120 500 60

Cuba 2001 Joola 40

Dominica 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7 ITTF manuals

Dominica 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

Dominica 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Dominican Republic 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

Dominican Republic 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Ecuador 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 8 8 8 2 robots

El Salvador 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

El Salvador 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Grenada 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 6

Grenada 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7 ITTF manuals

Guatemala 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Guatemala 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 11 11 8 2 robots

Guatemala 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Guatemala 1999 Latin American Junior 6 12 100 16 12

Guyana 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 16 10 ITTF manuals

Guyana 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

ITTF/LATTU Development Program Equipment Assistance

Peru

PHOTO BY PERU TTF


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ITTF/LATTU Development Program Equipment AssistanceCountry Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables Other

Haiti 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7 ITTF manuals

Haiti 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 robots

Honduras 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 3 10 35 12 3 umpires sets

Honduras 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Honduras 1999 Latin American Championships 8 12 400 24

Jamaica 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Jamaica 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 4

LATTU 2004 Computer-Miguel Delgado-LATTU US$2000 computer

LATTU 2001 ITTF 416

LATTU 2001 Latin American Championships 260

LATTU 1999 Latin America Championships 24 300 4800 64 training

Mexico 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

Mexico 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Netherlands Antilles 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7 ITTF manuals

Netherlands Antilles 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 robots

Nicaragua 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 8

Panama 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 15

Paraguay 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 9

Peru 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Peru 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 16

Peru 2002 World Junior Circuit Tibhar 8 8 8

Puerto Rico 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 5

Santa Lucia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7 ITTF manuals

Santa Lucia 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 robots

St Kitts & Nevis 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 7

St Kitts & Nevis 2005 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16

St Vincent & Grenadines 2002 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 9

St Vincent & Grenadines 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20

Trinidad & Tobago 2005 ITTF Agreement Double Happiness 6 6 80 16

Trinidad & Tobago 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20

Trinidad & Tobago 2003 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 9

Uruguay 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20

Uruguay 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 12 12 5 12 ITTF US$2000

Uruguay 2001 ITTF Agreement 20

Uruguay-LATTU 2005 ITTF-Newgy Assistance Newgy donation 5500

Venezuela 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Venezuela 2004 ITTF Agreement Tibhar 6 6 80 16 2 ITTF manuals

Puerto Rico



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NORTHAMERICA

The North American DevelopmentPlan is focused on Junior and CadetTraining Camps, High PerformanceCoach Education and Women's Course.

Olena SowersThe recipient of a Butterfly ScholarshipPHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

“The Continental Development Funds have helped increase and focusNorth American projects. Camps such as the Women's Development,the Cadet camps and the Junior camps have enriched the NorthAmerican calendar and created increased interaction between the twoactive associations.”

Bruce Burton (ITTF Continental Vice President North America)PHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

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teaming with Lily Yip to run a JuniorTraining Camp in the United States.Meanwhile, Lily Yip was on duty withAttila Csaba at Cadet Training Camps inthe United States and in Canada in 2003whilst in 2005, immediately prior to theITTF World Junior Circuit event in CanadaLiu Yong Jiang conducted a HighPerformance Coaching Course and WorldJunior Circuit Training Camp.

Liu Yong Jiang had also been presentin 2003 at the High Performance Courseworking alongside Dejan Papic.

The courses organised in NorthAmerica, whilst educating and raising stan-dards have enhanced the organisationalstructure of table tennis in North America,a fact acknowledged by Bruce Burton, the

ITTF Continental Vice President for NorthAmerica.

“The link between some of the proj-ects such as the cadet camps, the high performance junior camps, and the GlobalJunior Program has helped strengthen aninfrastructure in North America that wasbarely surviving prior to the ContinentalDevelopment Program”, he said. “Withsome issues to overcome, the ContinentalDevelopment Program may be one of themost significant projects for the develop-ment of table tennis in North America.”

A positive response and a soundendorsement for the ITTF DevelopmentProgram which has had an effect in boththe poorest and most affluent areas of theworld, success indeed.

North AmericaNorth America is one of the most devel-oped areas in the world and as a result thenumber of courses held under the auspicesof the ITTF Development Program is lessthan in other parts of the world.

The continent comprises four nationaltable tennis associations: Bermuda,Canada, Greenland and the United Statesof America.

In 2002 Glenn Tepper visited Bermudato take an ITTF Development ProjectCourse whilst the following year MariannDomonkos was on duty to conduct a simi-lar programme.

Understandably the two largest associ-ations in North America are the UnitedStates and Canada. In 2004 MariannDomonkos conducted an ITTF Women’sCourse in Canada whilst one of the busiestcoaches has been Mikael Andersson, theITTF Global Junior Programme Manager.

In July 2001 he conducted an OlympicSolidarity Course in Canada; in 2002 hewas the head coach at a Cadet TrainingCamp in Canada and also at a JuniorTraining Camp in the United States.Meanwhile, in 2003 he was in charge of aHigh Performance Coaching Course andInternational Junior Training Camp inCanada.

Also Christian Fossy, Lily Yip, AttilaCsaba, Liu Yong Jiang and Dejan Papic,have led courses and training camps.

Christian Fossy led an ITTF Women’sCourse and was the coach at a JuniorTraining Camp in Canada in 2005 whilst

ITTF/NATTU Development Program Courses

ITTF/NATTU Development Program Equipment Assistance

Bermuda GreenlandUnited States of AmericaCanada

Chiang Hung-Chieh, ITTF Junior Scholarship

holder, winner of theStag Canadian JuniorOpen in August 2005

PHOTO BY MONTHLYWORLD TABLE TENNIS

Country Date from Date to Course ExpertBermuda 28 Apr 2003 06 May 2003 ITTF Development Project Mariann Domonkos (CAN)Bermuda 28 Oct 2002 06 Nov 2002 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)Canada 29 Jun 2005 01 Jul 2005 ITTF Women's Course Christian Fossy (CAN)Canada 30 Jul 2005 01 Aug 2005 WJC Junior Training Camp Liu Yong Jiang (CAN)Canada 30 Jul 2005 01 Aug 2005 High Performance Coaching Course Liu Yong Jiang (CAN)Canada 22 Mar 2005 24 Mar 2005 Cadet Training Camp Christian Fossy (CAN)Canada 23 Aug 2004 26 Aug 2004 High Performance Coaching Mikael Andersson (SWE)Canada 23 Aug 2004 26 Aug 2004 Cadet Training Camp Liu Yong Jiang (CAN)Canada 23 Aug 2004 26 Aug 2004 Junior Training Camp Liu Yong Jiang (CAN)Canada 21 Apr 2004 25 Apr 2004 ITTF Women's Course Mariann Domonkos (CAN)Canada 24 Aug 2003 26 Aug 2003 High Performance Coaching Course Dejan Papic (CAN) Liu Yong Jiang (CAN)Canada 24 Aug 2003 26 Aug 2003 Cadet Training Camp Attila Csaba (CAN) Lily Yip (USA)Canada 24 Aug 2003 26 Aug 2003 International Junior Training Camp Mikael Andersson (SWE)Canada 31 Mar 2002 17 Apr 2002 Cadet Training Camp Mikael Andersson (CAN)Canada 05 Jul 2001 09 Jul 2001 Olympic Solidarity Mikael Andersson (CAN)North American Table Tennis Union 11 Jan 2004 23 Jan 2004 International Junior Training Camp-SwedenUSA 12 Jul 2005 21 Jul 2005 Junior Training Camp Christian Fossy (CAN) Lily Yip (USA)USA 02 Apr 2003 04 Apr 2003 Cadet Training Camp Attila Csaba (CAN) Lily Yip (USA)USA 22 Jun 2002 28 Jun 2002 Junior Training Camp Mikael Andersson (SWE)

Country Year Event Supplier Tables Nets Surrounds Rackets Balls Gross Scorers Umpire Tables OtherCanada 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 37 ITTF ManualsUSA 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 37 ITTF ManualsUSA 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 57 ITTF Manuals

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OCEANIA

The Oceania Development Program was a pilot project for the ITTF in1999, with a full time Development Officer conducting courses across theregion. It was the first continental program. Owing to the success inOceania, the ITTF Development Program was expanded to the other continents. A Development Officer planning and conducting coursesremains the backbone of the program.

Robbie Frank of Australia, Butterfly Scholarship holder


“Oceania was the first to profit from the ITTF Development Program. Theprogress of the Oceania island countries has been exceptional whilst the WorldJunior Circuit, the Oceania Cadet Team and now the Oceania Talent Team havegiven our federation the opportunity to be present at the highest internationallevel and to show that we can compete with other continental federations.”

Patrick Gillmann (ITTF Continental Vice President Oceania)PHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

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Cook IslandsIn August 2004, eyes were focused on theOlympic Games; however, whilst the eliteathletes of the world strove for gold, thedevelopment of sport still continued in faraway places.

Steve Dainton, the OceaniaDevelopment Officer, was in Rarotonga inthe Cook Islands for an ITTF DevelopmentProject Course and he was very pleasedwith what he found.

“Two years ago the Oceania TableTennis Federation was not aware of anytable tennis in the Cook Islands,”explained Steve Dainton. “However, tabletennis is played everywhere and usually it`sjust no local organisation or no communi-cation to the international table tennisworld that is the problem.”

Steve Dainton had visited the CookIslands two years previously and on hisreturn found that table tennis had movedforward. “Now they have annual nationalchampionships, seasonal club competitionsand regular practice sessions; in fact thesport has grown so much that the numberof participants at the national champi-onships had more than doubled from theprevious year,” enthused Dainton. “TheMen’s Team event saw sixteen entriesdrawn into four groups with four players ineach team, whilst in the women’s competi-tion there were two groups of four teamswith two players forming a team; over sev-enty players, unheard of a few years ago.”

Very positive progress and in 2004there had been more. “Furthermore, theCook Islands participated for the first timein the Oceania Championships in May ear-lier this year and actually had one of thelargest teams there”, Dainton continued.“It was great exposure for the country andit is clear that the experience gained has

AustraliaAustralia, Fiji, Tonga and Palau were allrepresented when thirty coaches participat-ed in an Olympic Solidarity Course in July1999 in Adelaide.

The course was very ably led byThomas Stenberg of Sweden who covereda wide variety of technical, tactical andtheoretical subjects. Extremely beneficialwere the experiences of the coaches whohad a wide range of diverse backgrounds,from as far afield as : China, Vietnam,Germany, Czech Republic, India, Polandand Jordan.

Breakfast was from 07.15 to 08.30each day with the first session devoted totheory work; each classroom session lastedthree hours starting at 10.00 and finishingat 13.00. The only exception was on thelast day when the session finished onehour earlier, the two hours being the finalsession of the course and devoted to asummary of the week. Topics covered inthe theory section were: Swedish table ten-nis organisation, reactions and movement,designing training sessions, the SwedishNational Team and coaching analysis.

Lunch was eaten at 13.00 hours withthe second session being from 14.30 to17.30 on Monday and Thursday and from18.30 to 21.30 on Tuesday andWednesday. The session was devoted topractical work in the Fort Larg PoliceAcademy Gymnasium with items coveredincluding: grip, basic techniques, advancedtechniques, playing styles, defensive play,multiball training and analysing the coach-ing of players.

A farewell dinner was held at 19.00 forall course participants on Thursdayevening.

The course proved a great success withThomas Stenberg to be congratulated forhis excellent presentation plus the openand friendly manner in which he conduct-ed the course.

AustraliaCook Islands


“Prior to 1999, table tennis was rarely played in many Oceania countries, only four or fiveassociations were active. However, things have now changed dramatically and Oceania tabletennis now has over a dozen active national associations who are now regularly competingin regional competitions; this positive effect is a direct result of the benefits that the ITTFDevelopment Program brings to the region.

Steve Dainton (Oceania Table Tennis Federation Development Officer)

served them well, there is a definiteincrease in the skill level from my previousvisit.”

Competing at international level is astep forward and the Cook Islands aremost certainly a growing force in becom-ing a major table tennis force in Oceania.

A very encouraging situation but ofcourse success depends on people andoften on one person being the motivatingforce; in the Cook Islands that person isTearoa Iorangi. “Much of the work beingdone is by the sport fanatic and secretaryof the association, Tearoa Iorangi,”Dainton explained. “It's fair to say thatnone of the aforementioned achievementswould have been possible if it wasn’t forthe work he was doing.”

He started by helping people who justwanted to play for fun, social players butgradually the involvement deepened.

“Now he is not only the secretary forthe association but he is running competi-tions, coaching and communicating withall the necessary people to help make thesport successful,” explained Steve Dainton.“He has a vision to one day have a teamthat can be very competitive in the SouthPacific.”

Talent would appear to be plentiful inthe Cook Islands, there are strong clubsdeveloping in Avarua, the capital city onthe island of Rarotonga and also inMangaia, the most southerly of the CookIslands. Both these areas were also visitedby Mariann Domonkos in July 2005 andshe found the same enthusiasm for tabletennis that Steve Dainton had encounteredone year earlier.

Furthermore, there are plans for fur-ther development and the islands referredto as the `Heart of Polynesia’ could soonhave a new title for that part of the world,the `Heart of Polynesian Table Tennis’.Glenn Tepper, Thomas Stenberg, Alex Jakubczak

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A full house in the Cook Islands for table tennis

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OCEANIA

However, it has not only been the hostingof events that are the reason for thisaward. Anthony has also been instrumen-tal in setting up training academies andscholarships for young Fijian players withtwo Fijian players training in China forthree weeks whilst others have had theopportunity to practise in Australia.

The efforts made have led to improvedresults. After failing to win a gold or silvermedal at a Pacific Games for many years,in 2005, Fiji won two gold, one silver andone bronze medal, a massive improvementfrom just two years before.

Several ITTF Development Programactivities have taken place in Fiji with KerriTepper, Alois Rosario, Igor Rzavsky, GlennTepper and Steve Dainton all conductingcouses whilst Fran Keyhoe led an UmpiresCourse in 2001. Meanwhile, in conjunctionwith the ITTF World Junior Circuit a tour-nament and training camp under the direc-tion of Jarek Kolodziejczk and PeterKarlsson was held in June 2005.

French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is made up of five archi-pelagos plus one hundred and thirtyislands. The most populous and famousisland is Tahiti; it is the hub of table tennisbut Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa,Huahine, as well as the Australs andMarquises archipelagos are also active.

On Tahiti, there are some sixty interna-tional standard table tennis tables, with fif-teen in the permanent main stadium inPapeete. Table tennis is very active in theschools with the main stadium fullybooked during school hours. The TahitiTable Tennis Federation has been instru-mental in promoting table tennis in bothTahiti and the outer islands where tabletennis is also regularly played.

Meanwhile the media coverage is theenvy of any nation with a weekly double

East TimorIn September and October 2002 GlennTepper conducted a course in East Timorthat was a joint project between theOceania National Olympic Committee,Olympic Solidarity, Oceania Table TennisFederation and the ITTF.

Prior to independence in 2002, the ITTFand the Oceania Table Tennis Federationwere involved in a project that both assist-ed in East Timor gaining Olympic status,while re-establishing table tennis in thisnew nation. Following funding fromOlympic Solidarity, Coach Education,Training Camps, Equipment Assistance andassisting with the administration and plan-ning for East Timor becoming a member ofITTF and Asian Table Tennis Union were allcompleted, resulting in ITTF/ATTU member-ship and assisting in East Timor gainingOlympic status.

FijiFiji, a small island nation in the SouthPacific, is not well known for its table ten-nis. They have outstanding rugby playersand the country is far better known as atropical tourist paradise. Therefore, the factthat Anthony Ho won the NationalSporting Award `Fiji Sports Administrator ofthe Year, 2005’ for his work as President ofthe Fiji Table Tennis Association is truly anamazing feat.

In the 1960s and 1970s table tennishad been quite a popular sport on thebeautiful Pacific island. However, by thelate 1990s table tennis in Fiji was a vanish-ing sport. From the 1970s to the 1990s thenational table tennis association did verylittle to promote and develop the gamewithin the country. However, whenAnthony Ho, a former representative of theFijian team, took over the sport earlier thisdecade things dramatically changed.

It has been a relatively fast rise toprominence for Anthony since the time hestarted to become actively involved in2001. He realised that by hosting regionaland international competitions he couldshowcase the sport within his country. In2002, Fiji hosted the Oceania Table TennisChampionships and then just one yearlater the country was host to the SouthPacific games, both recognised as fantasticevents in the Pacific.

It was then in 2005 when the ITTF’sWorld Junior Circuit came to Fiji, their firstever international event, that Anthony andhis dedicated team truly showcased tabletennis. The event was a major success. Ithad an incredible amount of media cover-age with full newspaper reports on a dailybasis.

page spread in local newspapers as well asregular television and radio interviews.

The island has been assisted with theirdevelopment through the ITTFDevelopment Program with Glenn Tepperconducting courses in 1999, 2000 and2001 whilst in 2002 Jan Berner led an ITTFDevelopment Project course.

President of the Tahiti Table TennisFederation Roland Sam, during this period,has been instrumental in setting up tabletennis in the outer islands, often personallygoing to the islands to assist with coachingand development. In the Society Islandsthere is also the Games of `Isles du Vent’(Windward Islands: Tahiti, Moorea) and`Isles sous le Vent’ (Leeward Islands: BoraBora, Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine) which boostthe active tournament season in Tahiti.

School table tennis is also popular onTahiti with their table tennis centre fullybooked during school hours in addition tomany schools having their own pro-grammes and tables..

Young people playing table tennis isclearly encouraged in Tahiti and this factwas underlined in April 2005 when, as partof the Oceania Development Program,Tahiti's Junior players were involved inintensive training in an effort to be part ofthe team for the ITTF World Junior Circuitevent in Fiji.

Also present was Glenn Tepper whoconducted an ITTF Development ProjectCourse, assistance to clubs being the prin-cipal theme; meanwhile, meetings with theMinister of Sport and planning discussionswith the Tahiti Association were also held.

KiribatiKiribati consists of a number of coral atollsspread over about one hundred thousandsquare kilometres, with a population ofapproximately eighty thousand; most ofwhom are concentrated on the atoll ofTarawa.

Table Tennis is predominantly played ina series of one table clubs, often outdoors,and in the case of the most active club inKiribati , Betio, under a palm tree with asand floor. Despite the lack of facilities,enthusiasm and talent abounds in an atollwhich has no television and minimal accessto computers, leaving sporting activities asthe main leisure activity.

A visitor to the island in 2004 to takean Olympic Solidarity Course was SteveDainton, the ITTF Development Officer forOceania, who found a republic enthusiasticabout table tennis but organised in a man-ner that caused some frustration.

“I first visited here over three yearsago”, Steve Dainton explained. “At thattime there were a handful of players and

East Timor Fiji French Polynesia Kiribati

Eyes fixed on Peter Karlsson in Fiji in 2005PHOTO BY RAUL CALIN

Players in Tahaa, French Polynesia

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perhaps one coach with some basic knowl-edge, I can clearly remember a competitionI organised; it was due to start at 9.00 amwith twenty players but didn’t start until2.00 pm with only ten entrants.”

Three years on there had been progressbut Dainton was still somewhat frustrated.“In 2004, the competition was due to startat 9.00am but didn’t get under way until9:30am”', Dainton added. “There wassupposed to be a hundred participants butthree teams didn’t show up, so there wereonly eighty-eight; the event was timed,which to me seems quite strange consider-ing time does not seem to mean anythinghere, yet incredibly they were almost onschedule!”

Officials were appointed to run thecompetition and as Steve Dainton foundout competition was quite intense. “Thebest part is that the standard is relativelystrong”, he said. “There are now five or sixactive coaches that have formed somewhatof a rivalry; most players serve with gooddegree of spin and try to attack the thirdball with heavy top spin; although I amfrustrated it is hard to look past the hugeimprovement that has been made in sucha short time.”

Certainly, Kiribati is making progressand the progress is quite noticeable asDainton explained: “Sixteen year oldFreddy Choy was selected for the OceaniaJunior Talent Team that went to Swedenearlier in 2004; also he was very competi-tive at the recent Oceania Championships,losing a very close match to David Zalcbergof Australia.”

Furthermore, there is a young femaleplayer Atea Tetabo who was selected forthe Oceania Team that competed in theWorld Cadet Challenge in Portugal in 2004which is quite an achievement for anisland where life can be quite difficult andthere is no tradition of excellence in tabletennis.

In 2000 Glenn Tepper conducted anITTF Development Project Course in Kiribatiand also the island received equipmentassistance with eight table tennis tables

Patrick Gillmann, has the full support ofthe New Caledonia Government-SouthProvince, the French Ministry of Sport andthe French Table Tennis Federation whoallow them to hold an international tour-nament on a biennial basis in which theFrench team compete.

Players from New Caledonia regularlyplay in France and New Zealand and com-pete at Oceania and World Championshipswhilst at the South Pacific Games theyhave been the dominant force. RaoulRainouard, a national hero with fourteenSouth Pacific Games Gold Medals, includ-ing a clean sweep of all four Gold Medalson offer in Guam in 1999, is the NationalCoach. Not only is he responsible for thenational team, he is also responsible fordevelopment at grass roots level and dur-ing in the summer of 1999 alongsideGlenn Tepper organised a training camp aspart of the ITTF Development Program.

Each day, fifty beginners trained in themorning with another one hundred andfifty missing out owing to the heavy book-ings. A further fifty intermediate juniorstrained in the afternoons, while the nation-al junior team prepared in the evening.

Meanwhile, in September 2002 fiftyplayers attended coaching sessions held inNew Caledonia under the direction ofFrench coach Isabelle Thibaud. An ITTFDevelopment Project, the sessions wereheld at the two main centres, Koumac andNouméa with Raoul Rainouard assisting.

Three years later in 2005, SteveDainton was the coach on duty and foundthe table tennis centre in Noumea a hive ofactivity. “During school hours it is full withschool groups that come for sport activitiesor physical education classes; after schoolit is packed with young enthusiasts whohope to achieve higher goals”, said SteveDainton. “New Caledonia's main table ten-nis man Raoul Raiouard who starts severalmornings at 7.00am and finishes at8.00pm,.”

Many countries in the South Pacific arejealous about the state of table tennis inNew Caledonia; They are successful, theyhave support from France and the eco-

nomic environment is stronger in NewCaledonia than in most South Pacific

countries. Nevertheless none oftheir achievements and progresswould be possible without thehard work of Raoul Rainouardand Patrick Gillmann who is fromKoumac. He is the first person tobe elected as the ITTF Continental

Vice President for Oceania and notcome from either Australia or New

Zealand.

Marshall IslandsNew Caledonia

being donated by the ChineseGovernment.

Marshall IslandsThe Marshall Islands, like Kiribati, is part ofMicronessia with the population concen-trated on the atoll of Majuro. Table tennisis also active on the atolls of Kwajalein andEbeye where the National Team membersare based. Facilities are limited with tabletennis often being played on planks ofwood but in order to try to alleviate theequipment problem, the Chinese TaipeiGoverrnment donated four tables in 2000and sponsored a coach for twelve months.

Two ITTF Development Project Courseshave been staged in the Marshall Islands,the first in 2000 with Glenn Tepper as theexpert, the second in 2002 when SteveDainton was on duty.

The Marshall Islands officially becamean Olympic Committee in 2005 with tabletennis one of the five required sports, sofurther progress is anticipated in the com-ing years

New CaledoniaNew Caledonia is situatedthree hours east of theAustralian mainland; it is trop-ical paradise that since 1990has developed into a a veryactive table tennis nation.

In 1999 they hadrecently completedrenovations to theirstadium whichincludes six inter-national sizecourts withTaraflex flooringand is big enoughto have twenty-fourtables for junior train-ing.

The President ofthe Association,

The Kiribati Championships in 2004

Raoul Rainouard nationalcoach of New Caledonia

PHOTO COURTESY OF GLENN TEPPER

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formulated a base that has every chance ofbringing success. “Importantly, we havejust developed our strategic plan for thenext five years, which includes starting aTable Tennis Academy within the nextthree years”, Loftus continued.“Competing in more international compe-titions and hosting more and more interna-tional competitions is also envisaged.”

After seeing this presentation SteveDainton felt confident that everyone wasinspired to reach such goals.

Another person who is working hardfor the future is Table Tennis New Zealand’sHigh Performance Manager and CoachingDirector John Stapleton. He was the manresponsible for Table Tennis New Zealandwinning the right to host the World JuniorChampionships in 2008, as well asOceania’s first World Junior Circuit event in2003. In addition to his role with thenational association, he is the Manager ofNorth Shore Table Tennis where the JuniorWorld Championships will be held.

“We have coaching as one of the high-est priorities right now, we need to devel-op an elite group of coaches if we hope toachieve our goal”, he stated. “In fact weare very happy with the ITTF CoachingAccreditation System and we are aligningour system to the ITTF one.”

Certainly, this was the reason whySteve Dainton was in New Zealand, he wasconducting their first ever ITTF Level OneCoaching Course and to describe thecourse as successful would be an under-statement. Twenty seven participantsjoined the inaugural course and all felt it

New ZealandIn July and August 1999 Glenn Tepper con-ducted an ITTF Development ProjectCourse in New Zealand and found that thecountry famed for its rugby players wasalso buoyant in the sport of table tennis.

They have met with international suc-cess; In 1991 New Zealand finished in six-teenth place in the Women’s Team event atthe World Championships whilst Li Chunlihad consistently been in the top twentywomen for many years and Peter Jacksonhad maintained a creditable world rankingover a long period.

Also, during the visit in 1999 whenGlenn Tepper concentrated on CoachingSeminars for Coaches, Regional JuniorTraining Camps, Club Coaching andSchools Clinics, he found that New ZealandTable Tennis was very active.

The Auckland Table Tennis Associationemployed former international Richard Leeas their full-time coach. Meanwhile, Nelsonhas a Table Tennis Academy with residen-tial facilities and holds a wide range oftraining camps and coaching sessions. Furthermore, North Shore and InvercargillAssociations both have DevelopmentOfficers working on `grass-roots’ schoolsdevelopment and many associationsthroughout New Zealand have permanenttable tennis venues. There are twentytables at both Auckland and North Shore,twelve at Lower Hutt and Christchurch, tenat Wellington, Whangerei, Invercargill andDunedin and four at the Nelson Academywhilst there are several other facilities usedon a shared basis.

The situation which Glenn Tepper dis-covered illustrates that the potential to suc-ceed at a higher level exists and whenSteve Dainton visited in November 2005 hewas of no doubt that Table Tennis NewZealand was moving forward.

“They have a highly motivated team ofcoaches and administrators with a strategicvision; furthermore, they will be stagingthe World Junior Table TennisChampionships in 2008”, he said. “I feelthat something exciting was just aroundthe corner for table tennis in the smallnation of only four million people.

Mike Loftus, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer, believes the potential for table ten-nis in New Zealand is exciting. “We aredeveloping a strong coaching structure, wehave an excellent infrastructure, we have agrowing Asian population which meansmore participation in the sport and mostimportantly we have a highly motivatedboard”, he said. “So, I am quite confidentNew Zealand can one day be a table tennisforce to be reckoned with.”

Furthermore, they would seem to have

was a very useful starting point on theirpathway for further coaching knowledge.

However, for Steve Dainton, it was theatmosphere created during the course thatwas the most exciting factor. “I had a feel-ing that these coaches shared a vision fortable tennis in New Zealand”, he said.“Also, their attendance at the course wasjust a small step in their progress tobecome elite level coaches and to one daybe part of an organisation that hopes tosee their players compete at the highestlevels.”

Meanwhile, Poland’s JarekKolodziejczyk also visited New Zealand in2005, he was there in June and like SteveDainton was very pleased with the struc-tures being put in place.

A long term plan to make NewZealand competitive on the world scenehas been formulated; the principal aimsbeing to establish a New Zealand TableTennis Academy linked to one of the bestschools in the country, whilst also appoint-ing National and Regional Coaches plusDevelopment Officers in order to increaseparticipation and raise standards.

Part of the strategy has been to adoptthe ITTF Coach Accreditation system whichhas put the national association ahead ofmany sports in New Zealand that do nothave such programmes in place.

“Obviously to make it into the elite ofinternational table tennis will take a mam-moth effort”, concluded Steve Dainton.“However, with the group of people whohave the thinking vision, I have a feelingthat they just may do that.”

New Zealand

The North Shore World Junior Championships CommitteePHOTO BY RÉMY GROS

Schools coaching in Timaru, South Island, in 1999

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PalauIn 1999, 2000 and 2001, Glenn Tepper vis-ited Palau to conduct Olympic SolidarityCourses which included coaching, tourna-ment organisation and officiating as wellas producing development programmesand visits to local schools.

Table tennis was very much in its infan-cy but the large number of children playingthe sport on any available piece of wood inthe villages and the enthusiasm shown bythe Olympic Solidarity Course participants,suggested that Palau was set to achievegreater heights.

In 2005 those heights were realisedwhen the 7th South Pacific Mini Gameswere staged in Koror, Palau from Monday25th July to Thursday 4th August 2005.The South Pacific Mini Games are stagedevery four years (2001,2005,2009), asmaller version of the South Pacific Gameswhich are also held every four years(2003,2007). The event in Palau may nothave attracted the world’s greatest athletesbut the table tennis events were full ofinteresting matches and promising youngplayers were clearly starting to emerge.

Steve Dainton, the OceaniaDevelopment Officer, was present at theGames and was pleased to see that for thefirst time, table tennis was included in theprogramme.

“Table tennis was there thanks largelyto the efforts of Glenn Tepper, the formerOceania Development Officer and was def-initely one of the best represented and pre-

there was no clean sweep. Three gold medals eluded their grasp.

Vanuatu (Emmeline Clochard, Anolyn Lulu,Kerry Mok, Priscilla Tommy) won theWomen’s Team event whilst Fiji clinchedtwo titles with Qu Rujuan winning theWomen's Singles and partnering RichelSen to success in the Mixed Doubles.

Four gold medals were to return toNew Caledonia. Frédéric Quach won theMen's Singles, he partnered LaurentVilleminot to success in the Men's Doublesand alongside Nicolas Ambrosini, VincentDey, Anthony Rainouard and LaurentVilleminot captured the Men's Team event.Meanwhile, the fourth gold medal came inthe Women’s Doubles where Laura Arnaudand Alexandra Heraclide prevailed, beatingthe Vanuatu duo of Anolyn Lulu andPriscilla Tommy at the final hurdle.

“The fact that other countries havenow closed the gap on the top teamsmeant that the competition was tighterthan in other South Pacific competitions; itwas fantastic”, enthused Steve Dainton.“Also, it was good to see the large num-ber of young players competing.”

Certainly a very good sign for thefuture. “Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fijiall had quite young teams with many jun-ior players and even some cadets in theirsquads.” added Steve Dainton. “The twosingles silver medallists, Priscilla Tommyand Richel Sen, can start to look forwardpositively to the next Games as they areconsiderably younger than the players whowon the gold medals.”

"Overall, the 7th South Pacific MiniGames proved a great step forward for thesport in our region", explained SteveDainton who was in no doubt that theITTF Development Program and the ITTFGlobal Junior Programme are having amajor effect.

Certainly, there is progress in the SouthPacific; the policies initiated by theInternational Table Tennis Federation aretaking effect and the debut of table tennisat the 7th South Pacific Mini Games hadproved an unmitigated success.

Palau

sented sports in Palau”, explained Dainton.“It was excellent considering that the eventwas held in a region of the Pacific whichhas much United States influence and as aresult means the sport struggles to findpopularity against more publicisedAmerican sports, like baseball and basket-ball.”

The problem, of course, that exists inthe developing parts of the world isfinance and this caused some absentees inPalau. “Some of the more traditional tabletennis associations were not able to attendowing to the huge costs of airfares neededto fly to Palau”, explained Dainton.However, nine countries participated: TheCommonwealth of the Northern Marianas,Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, New Caledonia, TheRepublic of the Marshall Islands, Palau,Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The name that stands out amongst thenine countries in terms of table tennis suc-cess is New Caledonia; they have dominat-ed matters in the South Pacific for overtwo decades with Tahiti, not present inPalau, being the main rivals. Therefore,New Caledonia started as favourites tocapture the lion’s share of the medals buttimes are changing in the South Pacific.

"I knew it would not be easy for NewCaledonia; the ITTF Development Programhas made great strides in many countrieslike Fiji, Kiribati and Vanuatu”, explainedDainton. “So, I was quite sure NewCaledonia would face some major chal-lenges from these countries.” NewCaledonia still dominated. It was the coun-try with the greatest depth of talent but Improvisation in Palau in 1999

Women’s Doubles Finalists, 2005: Anolyn Lulu, Laura Arnaud, Priscilla Tommy, Alexandra Heraclide

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Olympic Solidarity Course, Palau 1999 Promoting table tennis in Palau, coaches visit schools to increase interestPHOTO BY PALAU TTA PHOTO BY PALAU TTA

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tennis table.Innovation is essential in parts of the

world like Samoa where the average wageis around US$30 per week, so demonstrat-ing that table tennis can be played on avariety of modified tables was an essentialfeature of the ITTF Development ProgramCourses.

However, Samoa has received equip-ment assistance thanks to the supportgiven by Tamasu Butterfly to the OceaniaDevelopment Program. Every country visit-ed (up to twelve per year) receives twentyrackets, two gross of balls and two netsand post sets. It is often the only goodquality equipment in the country.

Solomon IslandsThe Solomon Islands consist of no lessthan nine hundred and ninety-two islands;the largest island, Guadalcanal, hosting thecapital Honiara, where government, com-merce and tourism are based.

Guadalcanal has experienced problemswith ethnic tension, with only peace keep-

SamoaSamoa, formerly known as WesternSamoa, has a population of one hundredand sixty thousand and has been an inde-pendent country since 1962. The countryconsists of two main islands; it is Polynesiaat its purest and most traditional.

Outside of the capital, Apia, most peo-ple still live in traditional open sided housescalled `fales’ and follow the traditionalSamoan way of life known with many liv-ing a subsistence lifestyle of catching fishand growing tarot.

Villages are spotlessly clean, with mag-nificent displays of local flora and grassareas kept trim and tidy by machete wield-ing youngsters at dusk most evenings. It isstill quite common that visitors will beinvited into a village fale and treated as anhonoured guest, sharing a meal with anoffer to stay overnight.

Table tennis is being played again inSamoa after a period of inactivity; with thechurch exerting such a strong influence inthe South Pacific Islands, one denomina-tion is often given the task of administrat-ing a sport but having it open to all. InSamoa, the push for table tennis is led bythe Seventh Day Adventists under the lead-ership of the President, June Ryan andSecretary, Alfred Hunt.

Samoa now has nine qualified OceaniaLevel One Coaches and nine OceaniaUmpires. Development Project Courseswere conducted by Glenn Tepper in 2000and by Steve Dainton in both 2003 and2005.

The schools programme is conductedon any and every possible table and pieceof wood but despite the lack of equipmentthe enthusiasm of the children was notdiminished. Basically, every table is a table

ers allowed outside Honiara; however; youwould never guess it from the broad smileson some of the friendliest people on theplanet earth.

The national sport is soccer but since2000 table tennis has experienced arevival. Olympic Solidarity and ITTFDevelopment Project Courses in theSolomon Islands were led by Glenn Tepperin 1999 and in 2001, whilst in 2003 SteveDainton visited the island. He was followedtwo years later in 2005 by his successor inthe role of Oceania Development Officer,Surendra Suwal. who was the expert onduty for an ITTF Development ProjectCourse.

Undoubtedly, the revival in table tennishas been greeted with much enthusiasm,with eighteen participants completing theOceania Level One Coaching Course andsixteen fulifilling the Oceania UmpiresCertificate.

A national tournament, as well as aprimary school tournament was conductedin addition to the Coaches and UmpiresCourses. Table tennis, as in Samoa, isplayed on any available piece of wood, butdoes little to dampen enthusiasm.

VanuatuThe Republic of Vanuatu is a tiny nation inthe South Pacific of some two hundredthousand inhabitants; the home of magnif-icent beaches, clear waters, coral reefs andshipwrecks.

It is ideal for water sports but one ofthe fastest growing sports on the island istable tennis. The Vanuatu Table TennisFederation has made great progress in thePacific region in the past few years. At theSouth Pacific Games in 2004 they won onegold medal, two silvers and a bronze.Furthermore, the women’s team gainedbronze at the 2005 OceaniaChampionships, taking a match from themore highly rated New Zealand teamwhilst also dominating the Women’s SouthPacific Cup team event.The Schools Programme in Samoa, playing on makeshift tables

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A positive and happy mood in the Solomon Islands

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The progress is largely thanks to thePresident of the Vanuatu Table TennisFederation, Mok Tsi Wei; ever since hebecame President he has had the dream ofregional success. A successful businessman in Vanuatu he knows what he wantsand does what is needed to achieve thegoal.

In 1994 he held a practice session oneSaturday morning. It was well attended butafter the initial enthusiasm numbers dwin-dled to a hard core of three players; one ofthose being Emmaline Lulu.

However, they discovered that aChinese lady, Mrs Wong, was living on theisland of Santo. Mok Tsi Wei brought hisdaughter, Kerry Ann, and Emmaline Lulubrought in her sister Anolyn and brotherHam to Mrs Wong's home to play tabletennis. Mok Tsi Wei's son Gordon soonjoined and numbers started to grow, MokTsi Wei provided tables, balls, food, trans-port and money.

In 1995 Vanuatu entered the SouthPacific Games in Tahiti with understandablymodest results; however, since that firstexcursion into international table tennis theteam has made great progress. In 2003they won the gold medal in the Women'sTeam event at the South Pacific Games andthe following year a bronze medal cametheir way at the Oceania Championships. Itwas the boost they needed.

No longer is it just the members ofMok Tsi Wei’s and Emmaline Lulu’s familieswho play table tennis in Vanuatu; they arestill the stalwarts but there is a group ofyoung players who are improving veryquickly.

Leading the young pretenders aretwelve year old Yoshua Shing and two thir-teen year olds Lyn Pareia Daniels andPriscilla Lulu; furthermore, they are dedicat-ed, training two hours a day, six days aweek.

Using his own financial resources plusthe help of the Chinese government andmore recently major support from theVanuatu Amateur Sports Association andNational Olympic Committee, majorachievements have now been possible.

The Chinese government has sent aChinese coach to work with the nationalteam for the past eight years. Thecoach comes on a two year contractbefore being replaced. The fourthcoach to arrive was Liu Ming Zhongand he has undoubtedly enjoyed themost success.

In 2005, the Vanuatu AmateurSports Association and NationalOlympic Committee created a pro-gramme named, National OlympicDevelopment Squads in which table

Meanwhile, a development plan for 2005-2008 has now been formulated, the aim

being to reach the outerislands, promote

small groups andfind players whocan eventuallycompete withtheir counter-parts in Asia

and Europe.Interest in

table tennis is nowso high that the small

hall where they practise everyday isfully packed with players. There arejust not enough tables for everyone

and many of the young players showgreat potential.It seems likely that the Chinese govern-

ment will help build a new table tennisstadium for the federation; also, theOceania Table Tennis Federation and the

Vanuatu National Olympic Committeeintend to support the employmentof a National Development Officerto help promote the sport through-out the whole country and to the

wider community.The indefatigable, Mok Tsi Wei

has worked extremely hard and hisefforts are starting to pay off but still he

wants more success. In his small club hehas a sign reading: “A bronze medal in

1995, silver in 1999 and gold in the 2003South Pacific Games, so what next?” Moremedal success is no doubt the answer.

There is little doubt that there aregreater goals ahead; the basic ingredientsare in place and in Vanuatu table tennishas an exciting future.

tennis is included; table tennis receivesannual major support in its quest to havean athlete at the Olympic Games.

Furthermore, with the help of theInternational Table Tennis Federation,Anolyn Lulu has been appointedDevelopment Officer and is cur-rently promoting table ten-nis in the schools in thecapital, Vila.

Ready to leave for a coaching session in Vanuatu

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Yoshua Shing of Vanuatu, he representedOceania at the World Cadet Challenge in 2005


SamoaSolomon IslandsVanuatu

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ITTF/OTTF Development Program Courses Country Date from Date to Course ExpertAmerican Samoa 01 Feb 2006 05 Feb 2006 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Australia 07 Aug 2004 08 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Australia 26 Aug 2004 31 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Australia 02 Aug 2004 06 Aug 2004 Olympic Solidarity Hubert Hustache (FRA)

Australia 07 Sep 2003 12 Sep 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Australia 09 Jan 2003 12 Feb 2003 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

Australia 07 Jan 2001 06 Feb 2001 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Australia 08 Jan 2000 01 Feb 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Australia 11 Jul 1999 16 Jul 1999 Olympic Solidarity Thomas Stenberg (SWE)

Cook Islands 21 May 2005 27 May 2005 ITTF Women's Course Mariann Domonkos (CAN)

Cook Islands 28 May 2005 07 Jun 2005 ITTF Development Project Mariann Domonkos (CAN)

Cook Islands 10 Aug 2004 22 Aug 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Cook Islands 01 Aug 2003 18 Aug 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Fiji 25 Jun 2005 28 Jun 2005 WJC Junior Training Camp Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL) Peter Karlsson (SWE)

Fiji 08 Dec 2005 14 Dec 2005 ITTF Development Project Alois Rosario (AUS)

Fiji 24 Jun 2005 02 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Fiji 06 Apr 2004 14 Apr 2004 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Fiji 04 Oct 2004 08 Oct 2004 ITTF Women's Course Kerri Tepper (AUS)

Fiji 20 Mar 2003 02 Apr 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Fiji 01 Feb 2002 14 Feb 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Fiji 28 Jun 2002 30 Jun 2002 Oceania Training Camp Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Fiji 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 Development Officer Igor Rzavsky (SVK)

Fiji 11 Jul 2001 18 Jul 2001 ITTF Umpires Course Fran Keyhoe (AUS)

Fiji 30 Apr 2000 11 May 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

French Polynesia 02 Apr 2005 15 Apr 2005 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper [AUS]

French Polynesia 25 Feb 2002 14 Mar 2002 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

French Polynesia 13 Feb 2001 13 Mar 2001 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

French Polynesia 03 Mar 2000 26 Mar 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

French Polynesia 16 Feb 1999 25 Feb 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

F.S. Micronesia 13 Oct 2004 17 Oct 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

F.S. Micronesia 30 Oct 2003 06 Nov 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

F.S. Micronesia 19 Apr 1999 01 May 1999 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

F.S. Micronesia 11 Apr 1999 01 May 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Guam 03 Oct 2004 12 Oct 2004 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Guam 14 Nov 2003 20 Nov 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Kiribati 24 Nov 2005 24 Jan 2006 Olympic Solidarity-DNSS Surendra Suwal (NEP)

Kiribati 01 Jan 2005 31 Dec 2005 Development Officer Taraia Mwaitonga (KIR)

Kiribati 12 Jun 2005 20 Jun 2005 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Kiribati 06 Jul 2004 19 Jul 2004 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Kiribati 01 Jan 2004 31 Dec 2004 Development Officer Taraia Mwaitonga (KIR)

Kiribati 01 Jan 2003 31 Dec 2003 Development Officer Bwebwe Kaureta (KIR)

Kiribati 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 Development Officer Bwebwe Kaureta (KIR)

Kiribati 15 Jan 2002 30 Jan 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Kiribati 23 Aug 2002 01 Sep 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS) Mariann Domonkos (CAN)

Kiribati 17 Aug 2000 29 Aug 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Marshall Islands 04 Sep 2002 16 Sep 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Marshall Islands 02 Aug 2000 17 Aug 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

New Caledonia 07 Jul 2005 12 Jul 2005 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

New Caledonia 16 May 2004 18 May 2004 ITTF World Junior Circuit Training Camp Glenn Tepper (AUS)

New Caledonia 01 Sep 2001 24 Sep 2001 ITTF Development Project Isabelle Thibaud (FRA)

New Caledonia 25 May 2000 28 May 2000 Oceania Training Camp Glenn Tepper (AUS)

New Caledonia 26 Aug 1999 13 Sep 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

New Zealand 10 Jun 2005 23 Jun 2005 ITTF Development Project Jarek Kolodziejczyk (POL)

New Zealand 17 Nov 2005 21 Nov 2005 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

New Zealand 24 Apr 2004 16 May 2004 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

New Zealand 19 Sep 2003 21 Sep 2003 High Performance Coaching Course Mikael Andersson (SWE)

New Zealand 06 Jan 2002 31 Jan 2002 ITTF Development Project Jan Berner (SWE)

New Zealand 02 Feb 2002 03 Feb 2002 Umpires Phil Males (AUS)

New Zealand 08 Jun 2001 18 Jun 2001 ITTF Development Project James Morris (NZL)

New Zealand 05 Oct 2000 21 Oct 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

New Zealand 21 Jul 1999 21 Aug 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Niue 22 Aug 2002 29 Aug 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Niue 01 Jul 2001 15 Jul 2001 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Niue 16 Oct 1999 31 Oct 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Norfolk Island 05 Dec 1999 20 Dec 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Northern Mariannas 07 Nov 2003 14 Nov 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton [AUS]

Palau 01 Jan 2005 31 Dec 2005 Development Officer Jemmy Watanabe (PLW)

Palau 25 Jul 2005 05 Aug 2005 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Palau 02 Jul 2005 06 Aug 2005 Olympic Solidarity Surendra Suwal (NEP)

Palau 10 Nov 2004 20 Nov 2004 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Palau 01 Jan 2004 31 Dec 2004 Development Officer Jemmy Watanabe (PAL)


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ITTF/OTTF Development Program Courses

ITTF/OTTF Development Program Equipment Assistance

Country Date from Date to Course Expert

Palau 15 Oct 2003 29 Oct 2003 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Palau 01 Jan 2003 31 Dec 2003 Development Officer Jemmy Watanabe [PLW]

Palau 21 Nov 2002 06 Dec 2002 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Palau 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 Development Officer Jemmy Watanabe (PLW)

Palau 18 May 2001 03 Jun 2001 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Palau 01 Apr 2000 17 Apr 2000 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Palau 02 May 1999 15 May 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Samoa 28 Jan 2006 01 Feb 2006 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Samoa 05 Feb 2006 11 Feb 2006 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Samoa 30 Nov 2003 10 Dec 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Samoa 17 Jun 2000 05 Jul 2000 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Solomon Islands 29 Mar 2005 10 Apr 2005 ITTF Development Project Surendra Suwal (NEP)

Solomon Islands 05 Jun 2003 13 Jun 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Solomon Islands 05 Sep 2001 20 Sep 2001 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Solomon Islands 08 Nov 1999 23 Nov 1999 Olympic Solidarity Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Sweden 11 Jan 2004 23 Jan 2004 Oceania Junior Talent Team Training Camp Steve Dainton [AUS] Karen Li [AUS]

Tonga 24 May 2005 04 Jun 2005 Olympic Solidarity Alan Pedley (NZL)

Tonga 01 Jan 2003 31 Dec 2003 Development Officer Manumanu Pepe (TGA)

Tonga 01 Jan 2002 31 Dec 2002 Development Officer Manumanu Pepe (TGA)

Tonga 11 Aug 2002 22 Aug 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Tonga 16 Jul 2001 29 Jul 2001 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Tonga 27 Sep 1999 15 Oct 1999 ITTF Development Project Glenn Tepper (AUS)

Tuvalu 15 Dec 2005 22 Dec 2005 ITTF Development Project Alois Rosario (AUS)

Tuvalu 01 Jul 2003 31 Dec 2003 Development Officer Igor Rzavsky (AUS)

Tuvalu 24 Sep 2002 07 Oct 2002 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Vanuatu 01 Jan 2005 31 Dec 2005 Development Officer Anolyn Lulu (VAN)

Vanuatu 02 Apr 2005 12 Apr 2005 ITTF Development Project Alois Rosario (VAN)

Vanuatu 01 Jan 2004 31 Dec 2004 Development Officer Anolyn Lulu (VAN)

Vanuatu 22 Jul 2004 05 Aug 2004 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Vanuatu 24 May 2003 06 Jun 2003 Olympic Solidarity Steve Dainton (AUS)

Vanuatu 24 Feb 2003 01 Mar 2003 ITTF Development Project Steve Dainton (AUS)

Vanuatu 04 Mar 1999 13 Mar 1999 Olympic Solidarity Alois Rosario (AUS)


Australia 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 123 ITTF manuals

Cook Islands 2005 Butterfly Anniversary Donation Butterfly 5 5

Cook Islands 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

F.S. Micronesia 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 5 ITTF manuals

Fiji 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Fiji 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 22 ITTF manuals

Fiji 2002 Oceania Championships Stag 8 8 150 4 8

French Polynesia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 21 ITTF manuals

Guam 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Guam 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Guam 2004 ITTF Agreement Butterfly Donation 6 6

Kiribati 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 47 ITTF manuals

Kiribati 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Kiribati 2004 ITTF Agreement Butterfly Donation 6 6

New Caledonia 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 8 ITTF manuals

New Zealand 2004 Oceania Championships Stag 8 8 150 8 8 8

New Zealand 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 110 ITTF manuals

Palau 2005 South Pacific Mini Games Stag 8 8 150 8 8 8

Palau 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Solomon Islands 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

South Pacific Islands 2003 Butterfly 3 240 24

South Pacific Islands 2002 Butterfly 220 37

South Pacific Islands 2001 Butterfly 120 20



Tonga 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 15 ITTF manuals

Tonga 2005 ITTF Agreement Stag 4 4

Tuvalu 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals

Tuvalu 2003 Stag 4 4

Vanuatu 2005 ITTF Agreement ITTF 20 ITTF manuals

Vanuatu 2004 ITTF Agreement ITTF 10 ITTF manuals


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SPECIAL PROJECTS


PHOTO BY POLONA CEHOVIN SUSIN

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Ishraq, `Safe Places for Girls to Learn,Play and Grow’, is a joint projectinvolving the Population Council,Save the Children, Egypt TTA and ITTF.

The objective is to transform the waysin which girls perceive themselves andtheir communities' view of them.

Ishraq aims at bringing lifestylechanges to the girls and women of ruralEgypt and is a unique mixture of literacy,life skills training and, for girls who havebeen sheltered in domestic situations ofpoverty and isolation, a chance to playsport with other girls of a similar age.

It is a programme that uses sport as avehicle to break the cycle for young girlsin rural villages of being circumcised andmarried into a life of menial field workand home duties; usually by the age ofsixteen.

DesignThe program is designed to ensure thatparticipating girls:

......Have fun in a safe and activity-basedenvironment......Enhance feelings of self-worth andself-confidence......Acquire skills in a wide range of recre-ational activities......Learn information and attitudes tohelp them live safer lives......Maintain mental and physical health......Develop lasting friendships

TargetsThe work is completed in close consulta-tion with the village community leadersas their support is critical to the success ofthe programmes. The program targetstwo main groups:......Out of school adolescent girlsbetween the ages of eleven and fifteenwho live in conservative Egyptian ruralcommunities......Educated rural girls aged eighteen totwenty-five who are trained as `SportsPromoters’ to implement programs which

besides sport include: literacy, numeracy,financial skills, legal literacy, health aware-ness and community services.

Sports PromotersFollowing the pilot program of tensports, table tennis was targeted as theonly sport which all `Sports Promoters’will be trained; the reasons being:......The enormous success of the twointroductory courses in table tennis madeduring the pilot phase......The relative ease with which tabletennis can be played......The commitment demonstrated byITTF and Egypt TTA

ExpansionThe Ishraq programme has proved to be aresounding success and is to be devel-oped further. It will be expanded to oversixty villages across three municipalities in2006.

ISHRAQ



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Willing To Learn on the Ishraq Program

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ISHRAQ


ITTF Involvement

Table tennis first became involvedin 2003, when ITTF PresidentAdham Sharara initiated contactwith the Population Council andoffered the services of the ITTF, theprogramme fitting very closelywith the ideals of the `BreakingDown Barriers with Table TennisBalls’ Program.

The Egypt TTA conducted the initialin service session with the association’spresident, Khaled El Salhy, togetherwith national coaches, Ibrahem Goudaand Gamal Zeinham.

The ITTF presented the `BreakingDown Barriers with Table Tennis Balls'Program to the promoters and it wasgreeted with an overwhelmingly posi-tive response; the scheme followingthe ideals of the Ishraq Program:......Maximum participation with mini-mal equipment......Fun, activity and learning......KIS - keep it simple, including sim-ple competition formats that empha-sise participation rather than winning......Humanitarian messages and valuesin the course

CourseIn 2003 a two day course was held inthe villages of Upper Egypt, close to ElMinya, in a place lost in time.

`Promoters' from five villagesattended the course; the ITTF donatedten tables to the program and theEgypt TTA supplied the rackets andballs from their ITTF/ATTF allocation at

the African Championships.An outdoor session, with fifty of

the target group girls was the high-light. All were dressed in brightlycoloured clothing and the look of joytranscended the language barrier. Itmade the project special for all. Thefact that everyone was outside ondusty ground with one table betweenfifty girls mattered little.

There was plenty of activity for alland the enjoyment was evident.

Next StageThe next stage of the project was toinclude translating the ITTF’s `BreakingDown Barriers with Table Tennis Balls'Program into Arabic; targeting leadersfrom the `promoters’ to take the pro-gram to a wider audience and lookingat the making of tables and rackets inthe villages as a community project.

Nadia Zibani from the PopulationCouncil and Sanya El-Aroussy workingpart-time with the ITTF dedicated manyhours of hard work in preparing andco-ordinating the visit, whilst KhaledEl-Salhy, Ibrahem Gouda and GamalZeinham from Egypt Table TennisAssociation also merited congratula-tions for making the visit such a suc-cess.

El Basateen The second part of the visit to Egyptwas to the low income area of El-Basateen in Cairo. The slow journey

into El Basateen on the bumpy dirtroads with donkeys pulling carts andcrumbling buildings all around,brought Glenn Tepper and colleaguesto a door way, behind which was asmall four table table tennis `parlour'.

The coach was Fouad Gaafar, theformer mentor of ITTF President,Adham Sharara who related a story ofa tenacious young Sharara winning thefinal match at the Egypt National ClubChampionships with a fighting finalgame victory.

Street Children Fouad had started this `parlour' overtwenty-five years ago to assist thestreet children of the area with aworthwhile activity.

On a recent visit, Adham met Fouadand was disappointed that the venuehad fallen into disuse and his formercoach had lost his energy to continue;help was at hand, the ITTF providedthree table tennis tables and the ElBasateen Club re-opened.

On his visit, Glenn Tepper watcheda group of young players in actionfrom the nearby Maadi Club and wassuitably impressed.

Several beginner and elite racketsdonated by Tamasu Butterfly for theITTF Development Program were dis-tributed during the session. Naturally,they were very much appreciated andthe smiles on the faces of the recipientsquite simply made the whole venturemost worthwhile.

Khaled El-Salhy who helped make Ishraq a successPHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

Women Promoters learning their skillsPHOTO BY GLENN TEPPER

PHOTO BY TAMASU BUTTERFLY

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IshraqExpands in 2004In 2004, Egypt’s Ministry ofYouth and Sports donatedthirty table tennis tables inliaison with the EgyptianTable Tennis Association inorder to enable the Ishraqprogram to expand.

Ishraq, having completeda three year pilot programunder the direction of Egypt’sEl Minia Governorate wasready to grow.

Plans were formulated forthe scheme to be extendedinto three Upper Egyptiangovernorates; the aim beingto reach a total of four thou-sand eight hundred girls inone hundred and twenty vil-lages over a three year period.

The individual sport select-ed for expansion continued tobe table tennis and the gener-ous donation of table tennisequipment had become anofficial part of the new Ishraqsports activities programme.

“The smiling faces of thebeneficiaries, the motivationand energy of the promotersand the interest generatedworldwide from showing theIshraq video, all point to thisbeing a very worthwhile proj-ect”, said Glenn Tepper. “Onethat can be implemented on alarger scale in Egypt and inmany other countries.”

It was for Khaled El-Salhy,the President of Egypt TTA, agreat success and the schemeunderlined the value of co-operation.

Ishraq proved to be a suc-cessful collaborative effortinvolving Save the Children,the Population Council, theCentre for Development andPopulation Activities (CEDPA);Caritas; the International TableTennis Federation, theEgyptian Table TennisAssociation, the Ministry ofYouth and Sports (Egypt) andthe Ministry of Education(Egypt).


Totally focused onthe task in hand


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AFGHANISTAN


In February 2004 the ITTF was the firstfederation to offer an extensive pack-age of support to the rebuilding oftable tennis in Afghanistan and onemonth later, table tennis was the firstInternational Sports Federation toreturn to Afghanistan following the dis-placement of the Taliban regime.

After twenty years of devastating warthe people of Afghanistan were starting torebuild. However, without the help and sup-port of the international community the taskwould be almost impossible; so in March,Development Officer Steve Dainton, repre-senting the International Table TennisFederation and in conjunction with theInternational Olympic Committee, made thejourney to help rebuild the sport. Only a fewyears earlier, helping the development oftable tennis, or for that matter any sport, inAfghanistan would have been unthinkable.

Different ComponentsA major ITTF Development Project it involvedmany different components. Steve Daintoncompleted sessions for all National Sport

Federations on planning and administration,as well as conducting coach education,national team training and the distributionof equipment assistance to the table tennisassociation.

Men and women participated togetherin the table tennis coaching course; this wassignificant because it was the first time inmany years that men and women hadworked together. The fact that it was donein a spirit of friendship and harmony was agreat result of the project.

SignificantThe International Olympic Committee,Afghanistan Olympic Committee, TamasuButterfly and ITTF all made significant contri-butions to the program which involved overtwelve months planning. Tamasu Butterflyprovided a large quantity of tables, rackets,rubbers, balls and clothing which made theproject possible and enabled the associationto find its feet. The culmination was at theVolkswagen 48th World Championships in2005, when the Afghanistan Table TennisAssociation became the two hundredth

member of ITTF with the association’sSecretary-General, Amanullah Hamid, receiv-ing a special plaque from ITTF President,Adham Sharara.

Once again the International TableTennis Federation had proved itself to beone of the most humanitarian focused inter-national organisations in world sport.

Resilience Kabul, the capital city, was the destinationfor the first ten days with plans to travellater to the western city of Herat. It wasobvious in the capital that Afghanistan hadbeen totally ravaged by war; at least halfthe city had signs of being bombed andmany buildings were either totally or partial-ly destroyed. Peacekeepers continued toroam the streets whilst poverty remainsextreme as the economy tries to recover.Almost every person had an unbelievablestory about the war and the repressiveTaliban regime. Life had been and was stillextremely tough in Afghanistan.

Yet amidst the hardship and difficultiesthere was a belief that the future could be

The Afghanistan Men’s Team in 2004PHOTO BY AFGHANISTAN TTA

Two Hundredth Member

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Afghanistan ProjectA project involving the International Olympic Committee, the Afghanistan NationalOlympic Committee, Tamasu Butterfly and the International Table Tennis Federation


In 2004 a table tennis tournament for women was held for the first time in Afghanistan PHOTO BY AFGHANISTAN TTA

better. The streets of Kabul were full ofactivity as people once again tried to live anormal life. Also, in almost every field, sportwas once again being played. It never ceasesto amaze that no matter how difficult thesituation, people still love sport.

InitiativeTable tennis is no exception; some tableshad been salvaged from the carnage and agroup of men were making efforts to reformand rebuild the table tennis federation. Theyhad even rebuilt a small part of the backarea of the sports stadium into their head-quarters; only three years ago the stadiumhad been used by the Taliban to executethose that broke their strict laws.

The amazing fact is that the table tenniscommunity had built their centre with theirown initiative, turning a shattered room andformer stables that housed horses into aplace to play table tennis. Furthermore, theyhad also found a room in the university toplay more serious competitions, their initia-tives were surprising, so as soon as the ITTFheard about the activity in Afghanistan adevelopment visit was planned.

The focus of the visit was two coachingcourses, one in Kabul and one in Herat, ingeneral helping the table tennis federationwith the overall development and directionof table tennis in Afghanistan was the mostimportant aspect of the visit. However,assisting some of the other sporting federa-tions with some basic functional needs wasalso part of the project. Butterfly provedmost generous, providing an equipmentpackage that was unprecedented and willcertainly have a long lasting and visibleimpact on the development of table tennis

in Afghanistan. In line with the ITTF women’s movement

a women's course was held and the liberalmen who ran the table tennis federationinvited the women to a mixed course. It wasan unprecedented first for sport inAfghanistan and proof that table tennis canbreak down barriers.

CancelledUnfortunately the visit to Herat had to

be cancelled. Rafi Semadi, the translator,and Steve Dainton had boarded an alreadytwo day delayed plane to Herat. Theyreached halfway when they were forcedback to Kabul owing to bad weather.

However, after being somewhatannoyed that they were not in Herat; laterthat night, they were somewhat relievedthat they had not made it.

The same afternoon fighting had brokenout in the streets of Herat after the premier’sson (Afghanistan's Aviation Minister) hadbeen killed by a divisional commander; thepremier was obviously distraught and want-ed revenge. Over one hundred people diedin the clashes that lasted for over thirtyhours. The trip to Herat was therefore can-celled indefinitely.

National TeamHowever it provided a chance to continue towork with the Afghanistan national tabletennis team. The team was preparing for theSouth Asian games to be held in Pakistan inthe first few weeks of March.

It was the first time Afghanistan wouldcompete in the games and they were beingrepresented in over ten sports, one of them

table tennis. The standard was, not surpris-ingly, very low; however the fact that theywere even ready to compete in a regionalevent was a great achievement and holdsthem in good stead for the future.

Now, there are plans to send the newlytrained table tennis coaches and officialsinto the major provinces to help build thetable tennis associations. Plans are alsounder way for a follow up visit for 2005.The table tennis federation is now in a morecapable position to develop its sport in thefuture but there is still a great deal morework to be done.

DeterminationThe remarkable table tennis story underlinesthe will of the Afghan people as they areonce again trying to rebuild.

Sport is starting to grow and many ofthe other federations in Afghanistan are in asimilar position to the table tennis federa-tion. Despite their enthusiasm it shouldcome as no major surprise that they stillneed major help. Most have very littleknowledge of what is required to be a suc-cessful federation let alone the equipmentto make it happen.

Table tennis is well known for itshumanitarian approach and it has led theway for Afghanistan sport. The project suc-ceeded thanks to the co-operation of theInternational Table Tennis Federation, theInternational Olympic Committee and thetable tennis manufacturer Butterfly.

The equipment they supplied is a vastcontribution to the future of table tennis inAfghanistan; their efforts have been grate-fully received and the Afghan sporting fra-ternity will benefit greatly from their efforts.

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Madeira Table Tennis Association: alarge quantity of clothingITTF/African TTF: 2 packages of 6 tables, 6nets, 6 scorers, 80 rackets and 8 gross ballsthrough the ITTF/ATTF agreement.ITTF/Asian TTU: 4 packages of 6 tables, 6nets, 6 scorers, 80 rackets and 8 gross ballsthrough the ITTF/ATTU agreement.Cuban Government and Cuban TableTennis Association: offered to sendCuban Coaches to the affected areas forone year.Norwegian Table Tennis Association:raised over US$15,000 towards a buildingprogram for a centre in both the North andSouth of Sri Lanka.

In total close to US$200,000 of ìnkind’ donations were made which togetherwith the US$70,000 in cash, provided overa quarter of a million dollars of assistance.

Thank you to all those that openedtheir hearts to the affected areas.

DistributionThe ITTF contacted all affected countriesasking them for a detailed analysis of theirsituation, the effect on the table tenniscommunity and what assistance would pro-vide the greatest long term benefit.

Several countries kindly asked that theirportion be allocated to those that needed itmore; these countries included: India,Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tanzania and Kenya.Following the analysis, five countries weretargeted for assistance: Sri Lanka,Indonesia, Maldives, Thailand and Somalia.

Meetings were held at the Volkswagen48th World Championships in Shanghaiand a plan devised based on need plus theeffect on the table tennis community for-mulated.

Sri Lanka and Maldives focused on pro-viding two simple table tennis centres toprovide a lasting legacy. Thailand, Indonesiaand Somalia had courses for the affectedareas which included Coach Education,Training Camps, Schools Programs and anyactions that assisted the affected areas.

ProgramThe ITTF `Tsunami Rebuilding’ Programwas devised as a means to assist thepsychological recovery from the wide-spread tradegy.

Understandably, the immediate needswere shelter, food, clothing and medical aidwhich was well covered by the many chari-ty organisations. The second stage was togive people hope and a break from therealities of such a tradegy; a scenario inwhich the ITTF became involved.

Sources of FundingThe ITTF set up a `Tsunami Fund’ which wasgenerously supported by the internationaltable tennis community with donations ofover US$40,000 being received, includingan ITTF contribution of US$10,000.

Further donations came from:......The continental federations of Africa,Europe and Oceania.......The national federations of Germany,New Caledonia and Hungary.......FIT, the Federation of InternationalTable Tennis Manufacturers......Table tennis manufacturers: Butterfly,Champion and Juic.......The clubs: DER and Champlain......Numerous individuals

Second StageSubmissions to the International OlympicCommittee and the table tennis manufac-turers formed the second stage of theprocess.

The International Olympic Committeeprovided US$30,000 giving a total ofUS$70,000 of available funds whilst dona-tions ìn kind’ were generously donated bythe table tennis manufacturers and thetable tennis community in general.

Donations were received from Butterfly: 20 tables, 20 nets, 150 highquality rackets, 22 gross balls, 100 shirts,50 shorts, 13 litres glue, 50 bags, 25 racketcasesDouble Happiness: 5 tables, 1000 rackets,100 gross 38mm balls, 1000 training shirtsStag: 500 rackets, 100 tshirts, 40 grossballsNewgy: 5 table tennis robotsJuic: 100 rackets

Richard McAfee & Don Mudtangam in Thailand

TSUNAMIREBUILDING

Total RaisedOver US $270,000 including US $70,000 in cash donations and US $2000,00 of ìn kind’ donations

DonationsSRI LANKADouble Happiness: 5 tables, 700 rackets, 70gross 38mm balls, 700 training shirtsITTF/ATTU Equipment Assistance 2005: 6tables, 6 nets, 6 scorers, 80 rackets, 8 gross ballsITTF/ATTU Equipment Assistance 2004: 6tables, 6 nets, 25 scorers, 100 rackets, 100 sur-roundsButterfly: 50 blades,100 rubbers,100 shirts, 50shorts, 2 gross balls,12.5 litres glue, 50 bags, 25racket cases, 4 tables, 20 rackets, 4 gross ballsNewgy:1 RoboPong 2040 robotNorwegian Government: A five year plan toestablish 2 primary school table tennis centres and29 primary school community centresJan Berner: fundraising US$15000Lilamani De Soysa: fundraising US$5000Junior Scholarships: One from ITTF, one fromButterflyBuilding Project: a hall in the south (10 tables), ahall in the north (6 tables), 29 community centres(each with one table)

INDONESIAITTF/ATTU Equipment Assistance: 6 tables, 6nets, 6 scorers, 80 rackets, 8 gross ballsStag: 125 rackets,1500 balls, 25 training shirtsButterfly: 4 tables, 20 rackets, 4 gross balls Juic: 100 rackets, 200 rubbersNewgy: 1 RoboPong 2040 robotCoach for fixed period: North Sumatra & Aceh

THAILANDITTF/ATTU Equipment Assistance: tables tovalue of US$2000Stag: 125 rackets,1500 balls, 25 training shirtsButterfly: 4 tables, 20 rackets, 4 gross ballsNewgy: 1 RoboPong 2040 robotITTF/ATTU Coach Education: Benone Grigore inBangkok; Richard McAfee in Ranong and Phuket

MALDIVESDouble Happiness: 300 rackets, 30 gross 38mmballs, 300 training shirtsButterfly: 4 tables, 20 rackets, 4 gross ballsNewgy: 1 RoboPong 2040 robotStag: 125 rackets,1500 balls, 25 training shirtsITTF: 4 tablesITTF/ATTU Umpires Course: Conducted byRonald WeeITTF Building Projects: Halls in Thaa Atoll &Meemu Atoll

SOMALIAITTF/ATTF Equipment Assistance: 6 tables, 6nets, 6 scorers, 80 rackets, 8 gross ballsStag: 125 rackets,1500 balls, 25 training shirtsButterfly: 4 tables, 20 rackets, 4 gross ballsNewgy: 1 RoboPong 2040 robot ITTF Tsunami Equipment Collection: 25 training shirtsITTF/ATTF Coach Education: Coaches Educationcourses conducted by Ahmed Dawlatly.

Clothing donated by the Madeira TTA will be distributed toTsunami hit countries who are present at the LiebherrWorld Table Tennis Championships in 2006.

PHOTOBY THAILAN

DTTA

Somalia Received The First Assistance PackageThe first assistance package in the `Tsunami Rebuilding Program’ went to Somalia with AhmedDawlatly leading a two week course in the capital, Mogadishu, in May 2005. The first week focusedon coach education, whilst in the second week six women from the tsunami affected areas attended.Security was a problem with armed guards being present throughout.

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Tsunami Rebuilding Program: A joint project involving theInternational Olympic Committee, Asian Table Tennis Union,African Table Tennis Federation, Table Tennis Manufacturersand the International Table Tennis Federation


Course members in Maldives

MMaallddiivveess The Tsunami disaster had a quiteunderstandable effect on the`Developing a National CoachingStructure’ program that was stagedin the Maldives.

Organised from 1st December 2004to 25th February 2005 the tragedy camein the middle of the course, adjustmentswere made and soon coach Arif Kahnwas back to work.

Male, the one kilometre square islandcapital was overcrowded with one hun-dred thousand inhabitants, many takingrefuge from the outer atoll inhabitants.

Thankfully Arif Kahn, the ITTF coachon duty, was safe and resumed thecourse only days after the `Tsunami’.

The focus was not quite what wasoriginally intended but perhaps table ten-nis provided an outlet and a break fromtragic reality.

`Developing a National CoachingStructure’ is a course that involves send-ing a coach to a country for a period oftime to leave a lasting legacy by not onlyproviding coach education but also build-ing a structure that will survive. Thelength of the course ranges from onemonth to a year, depending on the budg-et and the salary of the coach.

The original plans were formulated bythe President of the Maldives Table TennisAssociation, Ahmed Latheef, in liaisonwith the International Table TennisFederation and the very supportivePresident of the Maldives NationalOlympic Committee, Zahir Naseer.

After many months of planning,Ahmed Latheef, was transferred to Indiafor work and planning responsibilitieswere handed over to the capable handsof Visam Ali. The plan included the tar-geting of four atolls each with a commu-nity centre, a supportive local govern-ment and some table tennis activity, aswell as raising the level of play in themain island, Male.

Male has benefited from courses byGlenn Tepper and Dave Fairholm inrecent years, as well as several visits fromTimo Boll.

He always gives his time generouslyduring his holidays in Maldives and thereare many players in Male who proudlyshow you `Timo's rubber’ on their racketor `Timo’s shirt’ and all closely follow theresults of `their boy’.

`Developing a National CoachingStructure’ is one of the newest OlympicSolidarity Courses and also arguably themost successful.

Two weeks in Thailand (27th August -10th September 2005) gave RichardMcAfee the chance to see the areashardest hit by the Tsunami.

The resilience of the human race isremarkable, the ability of people to recoverfrom adversity never ceases to amaze; in2005 nowhere was this better exemplifiedthan in the countries hit by the Tsunami inDecember 2004.

Richard McAfee arrived in southernThailand in late August 2005. He conduct-ed a week long coaching course in Ranongbefore being driven three hundred kilome-tres south to Phuket, an area that relies ontourism and had been devastated eightmonths earlier.

Rebuilding“It was truly amazing to see how fasteverything was being rebuilt”, saidMcAfee. “I saw temporary housing buteverywhere you looked new homes werebeing erected; the beach was lined withnew buildings”. The recovery is remarkablebut of course it has been a tragic time inthat part of the world.

“The general feeling amongst the Thaipeople was that the rebuilding part of therecovery process will not be the most diffi-cult”, continued McAfee. “Recoveringfrom losing loved ones is the greatest chal-lenge.”

An understandable comment and thisis where table tennis can play a major role.“It is here that the government feels thatsports like table tennis can make a majorcontribution”, continued McAfee. “Gettingpeople back into their normal everydayactivities, which includes sport, will help in

dealing with the stress of the disaster.”The programme for both the week in

Ranong and the week in Phuket was thesame for Richard McAfee.

He taught two sessions each day, acoaches’ course in the morning for eight-een local coaches and a training session inthe evening for approximately thirty localjunior players.

Second WeekDuring the second week the venue wasthe Satree Phuket School and many of thecoaches took the opportunity to return inthe evening and assist with the coaching inorder to become more acquainted withadvanced training methods.

The course proved a success thanks tothe fact that there was a high level of co-operation. Tamasu Butterfly, Stag andNewgy all assisted by donating equipment,so there was no shortage of table tennistables, bats and balls; the response hadbeen magnificent.

However, it is people who determinethe success or failure of any project andthe efforts of Mrs Suaporn Chankerd, aphysical education teacher at the SatreePhuket School and the General Secretaryof the Phuket Table Tennis Association willlive long in the memory of RichardMcAfee.

“Not only did she organise the coursebut she took part as well”, McAfeeenthused. “She has taught table tennis inthe area to over six hundred students inthe past thirty years.”

It’s people like her who make the workof coaches like Richard McAfee worth-while; she sets a splendid example to all.

Thai Resilience

Junior players at a coaching session in Ranong

PHOTOBY M

ALDIVESTTA

PHOTOBY THAILAN

DTTA

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ITTF Project Manager Lilamani deSoysa was in Sri Lanka when thetsunami struck; in January 2005, beforereturning to Lausanne, she visitedsome of the devastated areas.

Seventeen year old national table ten-nis player, Chandi Hansa’s father told herthat when he saw the fifteen metre tidalwave rise up towards him he had grabbedsome of Chandi’s table tennis medalsbefore he ran out of the house.

Chandi’s mother proudly showed Lila atattered photo, which she had found inthe mud, a photo of Chandi receiving atable tennis award. Once more the powerof sport prevailed. The dignity of thesefamilies was closely related to the sportingachievements of their children. They weredifferent because their children werenational sports figures.

Southern CoastVisiting the Southern coast of Sri Lankawas a harrowing experience. The beautifulbeaches were in tatters, mountains of rub-ble and shells of houses, hotels, schools,created an unreal science fictional land-scape, as far as the eye could see. Peoplein tattered clothes sat along the roadswaiting for someone to distribute rationsof food and water.

Together with officials from the SriLanka Table Tennis Association, Lila visiteda town in the south called Ambalangoda(just before the town of Galle, one of theworst hit and the centre of foreign mediaattention). Lila visited the houses of severalplayers, or more exactly, the spots wherethe houses had stood before. Many ofthese players had lost family members,their homes, their clothes, their friends.They only had the clothes they had onthem. Chandi Hansa, posed on the pile ofrubble, which used to be her home.

PractisingShe and many of her table tennis friendsfrom her neighbourhood had escapedbecause they were playing table tennis inColombo when the disaster took place.They came back to find that their homeshad disappeared and to hear the gruesomestories of how their families had survived.

Little nine year old Vishni Vinokha wasnot that lucky. A student of DharmalokaCollege Ambalangoda, she was theSouthern Province champion in her agecategory but she was too young to be inthe national group. She lost her life on thatfatal Boxing Day. Eight year old table tennis

player, Shashika Anurudha, also suffered;she lost her parents.

Mr. Anura Lal, Southern ProvinceSecretary and coach showed me his`house’. He told me that seventy-five percent of the players in the national tabletennis squad were from this part of thecountry. He said that the Sri Lankan TableTennis Association had counted sixty-fourtables in private houses in the area; allwere now lost.

The Men’s Singles National champion(and Commonwealth Consolation bronzemedallist) K. S. T. Chalitha and theWomen’s Singles national champion IsharaMadurangi were from Ambalangoda. Lilavisited their homes. Chalitha’s house wasstanding but most of his belongings,including his table tennis trophies hadbeen washed away. He stood proudly infront of a few medals that he had man-aged to salvage.

The one room table tennis centre in hishouse had also been destroyed but a pic-ture of Tamara Boros and Zoran Primoracclung to the soggy walls. He told me hisvery favorite players were Jan-Ove Waldnerand Wang Nan.

Crucial RoleEleven year old U. W. Kanil had been miss-ing for four days after the tsunami. He hadrun almost three kilometres from his homewhen the wave struck his hometown; thenowing to the blocked roads he had notbeen able to return so had found refugewith one of his relatives. As soon as it waspossible he had jumped into a truck andfound his way back to his house. It was inshambles.

I asked him what he needed most rightnow; his big black eyes filled up with tearsand he said I need a new table tennis rack-et. I promised him he would have the bestracket I could find. He said he’d like it tobe a Butterfly Gergely!

GratitudeChandana Perera, General Secretary of theSri Lankan Table Tennis Association, RezaLatiff, responsible for international relationsand Dr. Dhaminda Attanayake all showedgreat dedication.

They have untiringly found out thewhereabouts of all registered table tennisplayers, visited their families and listened totheir stories. They continue to help thefamilies in need.

TSUNAMIREBUILDING

Return VisitTuesday 26th April 2005, exactly fourmonths after the tsunami that devas-tated many coastal regions of SouthEast Asia, ITTF Project Manager,Lilamani de Soysa, returned to SriLanka and visited the most affectedarea of the country.

Many tsunami victims were still strugglingto come to terms with the loss of loved ones,homes and livelihoods. Many were still livingon charity and waiting for the houses and bet-ter living conditions promised by the govern-ment and other international organisations.Thus, for the sixty-four table tennis players andtheir families who had been invited to attend ameeting hastily organised by the Sri LankaTable Tennis Association, it may have seemedlike more wasted time, full of empty promises.

However, it was not the case. Lila wasthere to distribute equipment donated by thetable tennis manufacturer, Tamasu Butterfly.Thanks to them and the International TableTennis Federation she was able to keep thepromise made to those children in December2004 when all hope seemed to be lost, to findthem the necessary equipment and help themreturn to playing the game as soon as possible.

Young U. W. Kanil who had lost his houseand especially his Butterfly Gergely table ten-nis bat received his racket, it was a symbol ofhope, friendship and solidarity. It demonstratedthat sport is not just a physical activity but auniversal language, a powerful tool to rallypeople in times of hardship.

Similarly there was good news for ChandiHansa. She had been selected for a table ten-nis tour in South India, whilst the nationalchampion K. S. T. Chalitha was on the point ofleaving for Shanghai for the WorldChampionships. He had lost part of his house,all his table tennis equipment including a tableand most of his treasured medals.

A Humbling Experience

U. W. Kanil with his Butterfly Gergely bat

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EstablishmentThe ITTF held the first ITTF Women’sForum at the World Championships inFrance 2003 under the theme `Rallyingfor change’.

Women’s Forums were also held at the2004 World Championships in Doha, withthe theme `Change through Education’and at the 2005 World Championships inShanghai the theme being `From Educationto Participation’.

A Women’s Working Group (WWG)has been formed, with continental andnational co-ordinators.

Targets regarding ITTF Committee com-position, national executives and participa-tion at courses have been set followingand aiming to exceed the guidelines of theInternational Olympic Committee a mini-mum of twenty per cent female participa-tion. Furthermore, a `tool-kit of best prac-tices’ has been produced.

As part of the ITTF DevelopmentProgram continents must have a minimumof one women’s course per year; theresponse for such courses was immediatewith all six continents in 2004 activelyresponding. Courses were held in Syria(Asia), Kenya (Africa), Austria (Europe), Fiji(Oceania), Brazil (Latin America) andCanada (North America)

Specific Initiatives ......Organise continental coaching coursesand Leadership Forums......Co-ordinate and collaborate withGlobal Junior Education......Expand Best Practices Tool Kit......Support the development of continen-tal and national associations on improvingtable tennis for girls and women.......Promote table tennis women to attendLausanne Leadership Seminar......ITTF representation at 4th WorldConference on Women and Sport inKumamoto, Japan 2006 ......Address issue of women's clothing intable tennis......Work towards equal prize money formen and women

IWGWSLilamani de Soysa, ITTF ProjectManager and Co-ordinator of the ITTFWomen’s Working Group was co-optedto the International Working Group forWomen in Sport (IWGWS) in 2004 Lilade Soysa co-ordinates relations withother international federations onbehalf of the IWG.

ConferencesLilamani de Soysa experienced a busyyear in 2005 in her efforts to promotethe female sporting cause.

She attended the Women and SportConference in Marrakech, the 3rd AsianConference on Women and Sport in theYemen and the 4th Islamic Games in Iran

MarrakechMore than five hundred delegates fromone hundred and thirty-seven countriesand five continents gathered for the 3rdConference on Women and Sport held(7th-9th March 2004) in Marrakech,Morocco.

Organised by the InternationalOlympic Committee, the theme was`New Strategies, New Commitments’ andthus further developed the resolutionsmade at the two earlier conferences inLausanne (1996) and in Paris (2000).

YemenThe 3rd Asian Conference on Womenand Sport was held in Sana’a, Yemenfrom 11th to 12th May 2005.

The conference theme was`Empowering Women to Benefit fromSport and Physical Education’. Lilaaddressed the meeting, speaking on thesubject `The importance of Leadership,Training and Promotion of Women’sCompetence Programs in Sports’.

Delegates from twenty-seven Asiancountries participated with Lila explainingthe challenges faced and the achieve-ments made by the International TableTennis Federation in the past few yearswith regards to the advancement ofwomen and girls. In order to illustrate hertalk, she showed the film: `BreakingDown Barriers in Afghanistan’.

TehranThe 4th Islamic Women’s Games inTehran, Iran (22nd - 28th September2005) gave a chance for women and girlsto participate in a major sporting event. Itwas an opportunity not previously avail-able for many females in Islamic coun-tries.

Organised by the Islamic Women’sSport Federation, over forty countriescompeted in eighteen disciplines, includ-ing a special table tennis event for thedisabled. Furthermore, it was a true inter-national event with representatives fromnon-Islamic nations present. Competitorsfrom Cyprus, England, Japan, Russia, SriLanka and the USA attended.

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Action PlanWomen’s Working Group Action Plan

2005 - 2006

ParticipationOutcome......To increase the number and quality of girlsand women players, coaches, officials, decision-makers and administrators in table tennis

Activity......Host dedicated coaching courses......Support University of Lausanne leadershipcourse......Attend 4th World Conference in Japan, June2006......Orient and mentor new women......Lobby for equal prize money

Outcome......Support national and regional associations inincreasing participation by girls and women

Activity......Expand Tool Kit of Best Practices......Support hosting of continental forums......2005 Forum Report......Dedicate development resources......More use of electronic communication......Prepare job description and checklist for co-ordinators

PopularityOutcome......To increase awareness, understanding andsupport for women’s involvement in table tennis

Activity......Enhance use of website......Include more information in magazine......Prepare recognition awards: ITTF directiveand process plus IOC award submission......Address clothing issue for women

PlanningOutcome......To develop plans and policies to advancewomen and sport within ITTF and its members

Activity......Update WWG Terms of reference, work planand prepare budget......Hold WWG meeting/conference call......Research and recommend targets or incen-tives for increasing women's participation......Address inclusion of women in continentalagreements whilst also formulating a directive toinclude Women’s Forums

Lilamani de Soysa,ITTF Project Manager

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Over one hundred men and womenfrom seventy-three countries attendedthe First International Women's Forumon Thursday 22 May 2003 at the WorldChampionships in Paris.

The Forum, organised by theInternational Table Tennis Federation andopened by the President of the FrenchTable Tennis Federation, Gérard Velten,adopted the motto `Rallying for Change'.

A large number of speakers addressedthe meeting with their themes covering awide range of issues such as leadership,education, training and marketing.

IssuesKey issues raised at the meeting con-cerned: ......Attracting more young women to tabletennis and maintaining their interest.......Educating more female coaches.......Encouraging female players to stay inthe world of table tennis when their careeris over.......Educating women to hold representa-tive positions at a regional, national andinternational level.......Marketing women's table tennis,improving presentation, clothing, televisionand media exposure.

RecommendationsThe Forum adopted four main recommen-dations:......That the ITTF and its member federa-tions try to achieve the InternationalOlympic Committee target of twenty percent women in decision making positionsby 2005. This is to be regarded as one stepon the road. It was proposed that theInternational Table Tennis Federationshould exceed the twenty per cent in orderto be a role model for other sports federa-tions.......That the ITTF dedicate resources andpositions for the development programmeto women and try to motivate nationalassociations to encourage and increasewomen's participation within the OlympicSolidarity Courses as well as InternationalTable Tennis Federation development cours-es for coaching, officiating and administra-tion.......That the ITTF establish a WorkingGroup on Women and Sport to overseethe implementation of opportunities forgirls and women to increase participation

WOMEN’SFORUMS

RallyingFor Change

and leadership in table tennis.......That the Working Group should takeinto consideration and develop all otherideas, recommendations and propositionsissued from the Forum in Paris.

Deng YapingA major speaker at the Forum was formerWorld and Olympic champion, DengYaping, a woman who achieved the high-est possible goals in her chosen sport andcomes from a country where in the pastwomen's feet were bound thus makingany participation in sport totally impossi-ble.

In her speech she explained the tabletennis coaching philosophy for girls inChina, a philosophy that has certainlyworked as their female players continue todominate the sport.

“It is generally agreed, that Chinesewomen athletes are better than men”,explained Deng Yaping. “Women arestrong and men are weak, Americansportswomen began to achieve equalitywith men only in 1972, our Chinesefemale athletes had equal opportunities inthe 1950's!”

Undoubtedly the way the Chinese pre-pare their teams has an effect. “The train-ing system has an important impact onwomen athletes; for instance the Chinesewomen's table tennis team normally hasthree or four male players to train withthem”, added Deng Yaping. “These bigbrothers have the responsibility of imitatingthe different playing styles of the bestwomen table tennis players in the worldand thus they help their sisters improvetheir skills.” The system has helpedChinese women succeed at the OlympicGames and at World Championships.

It is a training method that is in usetoday and clearly works very well!

Deng Yaping at the Women’s Forum in 2003

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In 2003 the Chinese Table TennisAssociation was asked to recommendDeng Yaping for the InternationalOlympic Committee's Women's Award.

Progress 2003Notable progress was made in 2003, bythe end of the year several proposalsfrom Paris had been realised.

A Women’s Working Group had beenformed, a policy of holding one women’scourse per continent on the ITTF DevelopmentProgram with two days being reserved forwomen on all Olympic Solidarity Courses hadbeen agreed. At least one of the three ITTFMedia Scholarships had been reserved for afemale journalist and national associations hadbeen asked to consider sending a female dele-gate to the ITTF AGM.

Meanwhile at the ITTF World CadetChallenge in 2003 five of the eight team man-agers were women whilst at the VolkswagenJapan Open in September, of the thirty-fiveinternational umpires, only the four invited for-eign umpires were male. Furthermore, Japanhad proposals to further the involvement ofwomen in the sport. The national associationcreated a Women’s Working Group and organ-ised a women’s coaches meeting and awomen’s referees course.

In the Middle East, Iran’s Zahra Yousefiumpired at the Volkswagen Malaysian Openwhilst Iftikhar Jumma Ali became the presidentof the reformed Iraq Table Tennis Association;she was the country’s only female president ofa national association.

In the west, the European Table TennisUnion had added a new Deng Yaping Under 21Camp to its development program and hadreserved 500 Euros for any member associa-tion wishing to organise a women’s forum.Meanwhile, in France a program had been cre-ated to involve more women in table tennismanagement.

The ITTF Women’s Working Group wasseeking more sponsors for female events andhad proposed to the ITTF NominationCommittee that preference should be given tofemale candidates for positions on the ITTFcommittees, whilst the ITTF Pro Tour organiserswere requested to ask press officers to write aspecial women’s feature at ITTF Pro Tour tour-naments.

Contact with the University of Lausanneand the International Academy of SportsScience and Technology in Lausanne to initiatea Leadership Training Programme for womenhad been made as had contact with the Frenchcompany Lacoste. The aim was to create a lineof table tennis clothing for women.

National associations were being urged tohold a Women’s Table Tennis Day on Monday 8March 2004 to celebrate InternationalWomen’s Day; the month when theInternational Olympic Committee’s Third WorldConference on Women and Sport (7th-9thMarch 2004) was held, an event at which theITTF was represented.

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“Therefore I recommendedsmall steps but Lila hastaken giant strides”

Adham Sharara ITTF President

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A Year LaterOver one hundred delegates were pres-ent in the huge conference hall in Doha’sSheraton Hotel for the second Women’sForum entitled `Change ThroughEducation’ on Thursday 4th March 2004.

A major item on the agenda was the lack ofwomen at decision making levels in table tennis;therefore leadership roles for women proved amajor item of discussion. The topic assumed ahigh priority but one year after the first Women’sForum Lilamani de Soysa, the ITTF ProjectManager, believed progress had been made.“The Forum has afforded the opportunity tomeet, discuss and learn how to be better lead-ers, better coaches”, she said. “As a result wehave better ambassadors for our sport.”

Lilamani de Soysa, in her role as Co-ordina-tor of the Women’s Working Group had workedtirelessly since the meeting in Paris in 2003, afact Adham Sharara, ITTF President, acknowl-edged. “Last year I said it was good to have aForum”, he explained. “Therefore I recommend-ed small steps but Lila has taken giant strides,Lila didn’t really think that way and today wecan proudly talk about great results that haveexceeded all expectations.”

In the space of one year a Women’sWorking group has been formed, a network hasbeen set up, statistical data on female represen-tation within table tennis had been collectedwhilst the recommendation was made on appli-cation forms, for each association attending theLiebherr World Team Championships, that atleast one delegate to the Annual GeneralMeeting should be a woman.

Furthermore, one media scholarship of thethree offered was presented to a woman and aspecial page on the ITTF website had been cre-ated for women’s news. Meanwhile, facilitatorJudy Kent announced that there will be morewomen’s programmes like the Deng Yaping andIshraq Programmes whilst female candidateswill be given more opportunities to participateon committees, commissions, and workinggroups.

The second part of the Women’s Forum wasaddressed by Dr. John Antonakis, Professor atthe Faculty of Economics and BusinessAdministration of the University of Lausanne,Switzerland. He addressed the topic of genderand transformational leadership. Following thespeech Dr. Chris Shelton, Professor at SmithCollege, USA spoke on the subject of `Women tothe Top, Changing the Culture of Coaching forWomen’.

The idea of a Women’s Forum had proved aworthwhile venture, a fact that was underlinedin Doha, the venue was full, the participantswere enthusiastic and that clearly underlined thesuccess of the concept.

The Third International ITTF Women'sForum was held on Monday 2nd May2005 at the Hua Ting Hotel andTowers in Shanghai, China.

Adham Sharara, ITTF President,opened the proceedings with Lilamani deSoysa, ITTF Project Manager, welcomingeveryone to the Forum. She was followedby Judy Kent, the Special Advisor to theWomen's Working Group, who gave aprogress report detailing the efforts thathad been made since the meeting oneyear earlier in Doha, Qatar, when thetheme had been `Change ThroughEducation`.

SpeakersThe opening part of the proceedings over,Jinxia Dong from Peking University spokeon the opportunities available in Chinafor women in the drive for Olympicmedals. She highlighted the fact that thesuccess of sportswomen in China exceedsthat of their male counterparts, yet onlytwelve per cent of women in China are inleadership roles.

Jinxia Dong was followed by HajeraKajee from South Africa, she addressedthe meeting on the subject of the need tomentor and support the many talentedwomen who can contribute enormouslyto sport whilst the final speaker, PolonaCehovin Susin of Slovenia, spoke on thechallenges and opportunities facingfemale coaches.

A health break with a session of TaiChi was followed by a workshop to helpprovide national associations with thetools needed to facilitate a Women’sForum. A wide range of topics was dis-cussed including an ITTF Facilitator’sGuide for Continental Workshops onGender Equity, an ITTF Tool Kit for GenderEquity and an Anti Harassment Policy.

AwardThe English Table Tennis Associationreceived the ITTF Women’s Award for pro-moting female participation in the sport.The award was received by the wife ofthe Chair of the English Table TennisAssociation, Alex Murdoch, who wasclearly delighted that his association’sefforts had been recognised.

“It is a great honour for table tennisin England to be the recipient of thisprestigious award”, he said. “My thanksgo to Judy Rodgers, the ETTA NationalEquity Officer, for her work at all levels innot only instigating programmes for more

At The Forefrontparticipation by women in playing andadministration but in improving the recog-nition of the major impact women can playin our great sport.”

One year earlier the award had gone tothe Japanese Table Tennis Association andhad been accepted by Koji Kimura.

AwarenessAn awareness of gender equity has beenclearly highlighted by the InternationalTable Tennis Federation; there has been asignificant increase in the number ofwomen attending the WorldChampionships and the Forum; with thislevel of participation in mind the Women’sWorking Group recommended that a forumand women’s coaching course should beorganised annually by each continent withthe two events being arranged in conjunc-tion with the biennial continental champi-onships.

It is a positive proposal and anotherstep forward. “A great deal has beenaccomplished but there is clearly a greatdeal to be done”, said Judy Kent. A wisecomment, there is never room for compla-cency but it is quite clear that theInternational Table Tennis Federation is wellrespected in the wider sporting world forits efforts in promoting gender equality andmost certainly is at the forefront of promot-ing women in sport.

England's Val Murdoch receives the ITTF Women’s Award from Dorte Kronsell

The Women’s Forum in Shanghai

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AustriaThe European course for women in 2004was held in Stockerau, Austria (20th-26thSeptember).

Co-ordinated by ETTU DevelopmentManager, Zita Pidl, a training camp for thecontinent’s leading Under 21 female play-ers was organised. The fourteen highestranked players plus four juniors were invit-ed but unfortunately only seven were ableto accept the invitation; a situation whichunderlines the difficulty of organising atraining camp that is not held in conjunc-tion with an international tournamemt.

Head coach was Liu Yan Jun of Austriawith Liliane Sebe of Romania and MartinaRable assisting. Unfortunately, Martina wasonly able to assist on the first day owing toillness.

A problem at many training camps isthe lack of practice partners; in Stockerauthis was no problem. Austrian internation-als Liu Jia and Judit Herczig were bothpresent as was Sweden’s Carina Jonsson.An excellent situation for training but ofcourse no-one can play productively fortwenty four hours a day. Therefore, a com-puter course (two, two hour sessions) wasorganised to give help with use of the`Internet’, `Word’ and `Excel’.

Futhermore, in order to facilitate abreak from training and study a visit to theEmperor's Palace in Schönbrunn, Vienna.was arranged.

BahrainForty-nine women, all from the PhysicalEducation University of Bahrain, attendedthe course in Manama from 7th to 16thJanuary 2004.

Organised by Hayat Aziz Al Khalifa, thePresident of the Bahrain Table TennisAssociation and Fareed A. Kazerooni, thesecretary, the course conductor was BrankaBatinic.

Saleh Hasan Ali, national coach, assist-ed throughout the ten day course whichfocused on techniques, tactics and rules.

Congo D.R.The first ITTF Women’s Course in 2005 washeld in Congo D.R. from 25th April to 2ndMay, concluding on the day the Women’sForum was held at the Volkswagen 48thWorld Championships in Shanghai.

In recent years Congo D.R. has madenotable steps forward under the leadershipof the national table tennis federation'ssecretary-general, Muana Mbuta and whenMaria Häfeli from Switzerland visited tolead the course, she felt that she was asmuch a beneficiary as the coaches and

COURSES

AfricaCongo D.R. 5th April-2nd May 2005Expert: Maria Häfeli (Switzerland)

Ethiopia 11th-16th January 2003Expert: Åsa Svensson (Sweden)

Kenya 18th-22nd October 2004Expert: Branka Batinic (HRV)

AsiaIndia 4th-10th October 2005 Expert: Polona Cehovin Susin (SVN)

Iran 24th September-3rd October 2003Expert: Polona Cehovin Susin SVN)

Jordan 30th November-4th December 2005Expert: Branka Batinic (Croatia)

Malaysia 11th-15th November 2005Expert: Chan Foong Keong (Malaysia)

Syria 21st-26th November 2005Expert: Polona Cehovin Susin (Slovenia)

EuropeAustria 20th-26th August 2005Expert: Liu Yan Jun (Austria)

England 12th-13th March 2005Expert: Dorte Kronsell (Denmark)

Slovenia 31st October-5th November 2005Experts: Branka Batinic (Croatia), GordanaFurjan-Mardic (Croatia), Eva Jeler (Slovenia)

Latin AmericaBrazil 1st-7th July 2004Expert: Polona Cehovin Susin (SVN)

Cuba 1st-21st March 2001Expert: Deng Yaping (China)

Trinidad and Tobago 9-12 July 2005Expert: Branka Batinic (HRV)

North AmericaCanada 21st-25th April 2004Expert: Mariann Domonkos (Canada)

Canada 29th June-1st July 2005Expert: Christian Fossy (CAN)

OceaniaFiji 4th-8th October 2004Expert: Kerri Tepper (Australia)

Cook Islands 21st-27th May 2005Expert: Mariann Domonkos (Canada)

ITTF WOMEN’S COURSESplayers present.

“I am very pleased to have conductedthe first ITTF Women’s Course in Kinshasa,Congo DR, because I have got to know agroup of extraordinary females who havegiven me a lesson in life with their enthusi-asm, warmth and simplistic outlook”, saidMaria, who was clearly touched by herexperience.

A wonderful atmosphere was experi-enced from the moment of her arrival inKinshasa thanks to the efforts of theAssociation of Women in Sport (AWISA)and the organisation’s president, SeraphineLofombo, a remarkable woman who isfighting for women’s rights amongst tradi-tionally male dominated sports federations.

AWISA had recently signed a partner-ship contract with the Congo D.R. TableTennis Federation to assist with the popu-larisation of table tennis amongst thewomen of Congo D.R. and in particularthe girls, a scenario that is having a posi-tive effect.

“The programme was very full withcoach education in the mornings, a groupof young beginners aged four to ten yearsold years in the afternoons and nationalwomen’s team training in the evenings”,explained Maria. “In between there weremeetings with various sports authorities todiscuss the development of table tennis.”

Essential to the furtherance of tabletennis in Congo D.R. is education, a factthat Maria highlighted. “Continuing theeducation is very important”, she said andshe persuaded Muana Mbuta to make apromise to follow the practical coachingshe had demonstrated. However, progressis hampered by a lack of equipment withrackets and balls in short supply.

However, the ITTF has alleviated theproblem to some extent; a package of sixtables, nets, scorers, eighty rackets andone thousand one hundred and fifty-twoballs were provided in 2005.

Thirty women completed the course,twenty-four were classified as `very good'and received certification.

Listening to every word spoken by Maria Häfeli

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Throughout the week of the World JuniorCircuit Fiji Open and the OceaniaQualifications for the World Junior CircuitFinals and World Cadet Challenge,Mariann Domonkos took every opportu-nity to check the ITTF and Oceaniawebsites to follow the results andstories.

The reason: she had justreturned from the Cook Islandsshortly before their team setoff for Fiji; therefore, she wasfollowing with great inter-est the results of theplayers with whom shehad worked andbecome acquainted.

Results were not thepriority. “As I lookedthrough the draw fortheir names, I wasimagining the excite-ment they must havefelt playing againstnew opponents”, saidMariann. “Receivingnew and strange servesand hopefully noticingplayers doing the thingsthat I had just taughtthem and that theythemselves still neededcountless hours of trainingbefore perfecting.“

The trip to the CookIslands encompassed a num-ber of different activities forMariann. “I gave a very suc-cessful one week Women’sCourse and held a numberof mixed training sessions inAvarua, the capital, on theisland of Rarotonga”, she

explained. “Also, I travelled to Mangaia,one of the fourten outer islands, where Ispent a day initiating roughly one hun-

dred and fifty very keen schoolchildren to the sport.” Anexacting task and there wasmore in her itinerary. “In theevening I held training ses-sions for a thriving and

enthusiastic local club”, shecontinued. “A club, I was told

that comprised about ten per centof the island's population!”

Mariann spent two and halfweeks in the Cook Islands andmade a most valuable contribu-tion; the next stage is to build on

the knowledge impart-ed. “In the greaterscheme of things,the two and a halfweeks that I spent in

the Cook Islands arejust a drop in the bucket

along their developmental path”, shesaid. “Many more drops will need to beaccumulated in the form of visits fromother experts, exposure to regional andinternational competitions but mostlythe drops of sweat they themselves willexpend in trying to put into applicationthe wealth of technical knowledge thatthey will continue to acquire.”

It is an exciting time of growth fuelledby unbridled enthusiasm, one which

Mariann is pleased she experienced; shewill follow more closely than ever theprogress made by the players from theCook Islands. The knowledge gained willhelp them move forwards. Also they have

received equipment support fromTamasu Butterfly; support whichwas gratefully received by all.

Cook Islands

EthiopiaSweden’s Åsa Svensson accepted the roleas coach at a course organised by the ITTFfor Ethiopian girls as part of the DengYaping Women's Programme in 2003.

The girls were particularly interested inservice techniques and no doubt theylearnt a great deal from just watching aplayer of Svensson’s class. “I am sure thatfrom now on you will see Ethiopian femaleplayers serving like Åsa Svensson”, she saidand maybe not such a bad technique tofollow: Åsa Svensson is the only Europeanwoman ever to beat Deng Yaping, a featshe achieved at the Hungarian Open in1992 when Deng Yaping was nineteenyears old and the reigning world champion.

FijiLed by dual Olympian, Australia’s KerriTepper twenty-one women from Fiji, Tuvalu,the Cook Islands and Kiribati met at theChina Club, Suva, Fiji for five days for thefirst Oceania Women’s Table Tennis Coursein October 2004.

The group ranged in age from twelve tofifty years old with representatives from arange of community groups, including youthleaders, school students, religious and cul-tural groups, Fiji Sports Council, SuvaWomen’s Prison, Police Compound, talentedjuniors and the Deaf Association.

For many it was their first experience oftable tennis. Therefore, the aim of thecourse was to equip the group with thebasic knowledge and skills to feel confidentenough to implement table tennis activitiesfor women in their local communities. Fivetables were available at the China Club butmany communities in the Oceania region donot have access to competition level equip-ment.

Much of the course was thus devoted tolearning activities that maximise participa-tion with minimal equipment, through theITTF `Breaking Down Barriers with TableTennis Balls’ program.

A highlight of the course was the lead-ership and planning session where eachwoman shared with the group who theythought were inspiring leaders and whatqualities those leaders display.

Each participant was presented with anITTF Women’s Course Certificate at aClosing Ceremony by Sakaraia Tuva, ActingChief Executive Officer of the Fiji Ministry ofSports, as well as a table tennis racket, tohelp in making the next step.

Some players stayed to compete in theFiji Open with twelve year old Alisi Naisau ofBa winning the Open, Under 14 Girls’Singles title, a player who had certainlyfound the course very useful.

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Girls and boys join forces in Mangaia

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ITTFWOMEN’S COURSES

Association in Iran, and was the course co-ordinator, are both enthusiastic and bothdetermined to promote female table ten-nis.

The situation in Iran is somewhat dif-ferent from other countries. Iran possessesits own agency for women’s sport and tosome extent achieves what other parts ofthe world are striving to achieve. In manyparts of the globe the goal is to increasethe number of women involved in everysphere of the sport; in Iran the majority ofthe coaches are women as are the umpiresand referees in the Women's Table TennisLeague.

A successful course and a bright futurewith the teenagers impressing Polona; thefuture for Iran lies with the cadet and jun-ior players; the more senior players shouldnot be ignored but it is the younger play-ers who provide hope for the future and agrowing stature for Iran in the world offemale table tennis.

JordanCroatia’s Branka Batinic, was the expert onduty at the first Women’s Forum in WestAsia (30th November - 4th December2003).

Held in Jordan the course lasted fivedays with discussions concentrating on thespecific problems that women and girlsface in the region when wanting to takepart in sport.

Organiser of the forum was Dr. RajaeM. Naffa, the President of the Jordan TableTennis Federation, who invited guests fromIraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Arabic TTF,the Jordan Physical Education Faculty, theJordan Olympic Committee, the NationalUmpires Organisation, school sport teach-ers, the Orthodoxy Club and the JordanTable Tennis Federation.

Kenya Twenty-four delegates attended the firstever Women in Sport seminar to be stagedin Kenya (10th-13th June 2003) with AnitaDefrantz, the chair of the IOC Women inSport Working Group leading proceedings.

One year later at the Nairobi, ParklandsSport Club (18th-22nd October 2004)Branka Batinic led a course which hadtwenty-six female participants, mostlyteachers. “We had a lot of fun but also alot of hard work”, said Branka Batinic.“For some of the participants it was thefirst contact with table tennis.”

Organised by Jane Pinto, Dilshad Kanjiand Andrew Mudibo the course proved aresounding success with a hall at theParklands Club being made available andnational coach, Kenny Mujimbo, assisting.

IndiaFourteen coaches from India, four fromNepal and two from Sri Lanka participatedat the ITTF Women’s Coaches Course inNew Delhi (4th-9th October 2005).

The course was conducted bySlovenia’s Polona Cehovin Susin and wasstaged at the National Federation’s superbheadquarters in the Nehru Stadium. Thecourse followed the contents of the ITTFLevel One Coaching Manual and wasenriched by videos on technique.

Also, the video `Breaking Down Barrierswith Table Tennis Balls, Afghanistan’ wasshown and appealed to participants whocould draw comparisons with life in thepoorer areas of their countries and withnatural disasters that had caused havocand devastation.

Theory classes were held in the morn-ing and practical sessions in the eveningwhich young players from the local areaattended. The coaches were all formerplayers (many having coached nationalchampions) and they had a very definitegoal: India hosts the CommonwealthGames in 2010 and they were aiming tocoach players to gain international status.

IranTwenty-one coaches and nineteen playersattended the Coaching Course andTraining Camp held at the Al ZahraUniversity of Physical Education in Tehranfrom 24th September to 1st October 2005.

The course was under the direction ofSlovenia's Polona Cehovin Susin; each dayfive hours was allocated to the trainingcamp with four hours allotted to theorysessions for the coaches. The coachesattended the training sessions for one houreach day in order to gain practical experi-ence.

It was for Polona Cehovin Susin a quiteunique opportunity, she knew nothing ofthe country prior to her arrival but waswarmly welcomed and met a group ofplayers and coaches who had unbridledenthusiasm for the sport. “They liked tabletennis so much that even after finishingthe stretching exercises the girls jumpedback to the tables”, said Polona. “Also,during the breaks, the coaches neverstopped asking questions.”

Understandably the level of play wasnot high, the Iranian Women's team hasnot played internationally for twenty-fiveyears but the positive response of thosewho attended the course bodes well forthe future. Furthermore, ShahroukhShahnazi, the President of the Iran TableTennis Federation and Sima Limouchi whois Head of the Women's Table Tennis

MalaysiaAn innovation at the AsianChampionships held in Jeju, Korea (27thAugust-2nd September 2005) was theWomen’s Workshop led by SachikoYokota-Heyerdahl, with the goal of find-ing ways to promote female participationin table tennis throughout Asia.

Furthermore, at the Asian TableTennis Union Council Meeting held dur-ing the Championships, it was decided toorganise a Women’s Working Group forAsia and to organise a Technical Coursefor Women.

The country selected to host theTechnical Course for Women wasMalaysia, the course being held in KualaLumpur (12th-13th November 2005). Partof the ITTF/ATTU Development Program,it was aimed at equipping women withtechnical knowledge relevant to tabletennis.

The course attracted thirty-sevenwomen plus five men from Iran, Laos,Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam andMalaysia and included some members ofthe Women’s Working Group.

Chan Foong Keong who is theSecretary-General of the Table TennisAssociation of Malaysia, whilst also beingthe Honorary Secretary General of theSouth East Asian Table Tennis Associationand a member of the ITTF Board ofDirectors, conducted the course. He wasassisted by Chee Shin Lian, the Women’sWorking Group Co-ordinator for SouthEast Asia.

The course gave those present a verythorough understanding of the technicalrequirements for organising internationalcompetitions. “A presentation was madeshowing the organisation of the 2000World Team Table Tennis Championshipsin Kuala Lumpur”, continued ChanFoong Keong. “Participants were dividedinto groups and given an exercise towork on seeding, byes and making adraw for a major international tourna-ment, whilst in between the lectures,everyone joined in some dance exerciseswhich added light relief to the event.”

Everybody was very responsive andenthusiastic during the two day coursewith the chair of the Asian Table TennisUnion Women’s Working Group, SachikoYokota-Heyerdahl, being present to openthe course and present ITTF certificates tothe participants.

At the end of the course, all the par-ticipants were given a CD ROM contain-ing the contents of the two days; theprogramme had proved a success and therequest for more was the most popularcomment at the end of proceedings.

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MalaysiaMalaysia 2005PHOTO BY TTA MALAYSIA

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SloveniaIn the first week of November 2005, anITTF/ETTU Women’s Course, part of theITTF Development Program was held inVelenje, Slovenia.

Three experts, all with internationalexperience were invited to speak; thecourse being aimed at the development ofwomen’s table tennis in the region. All theSlovenian and Serbo-Croat speaking coun-tries received invitations, whilst at the sametime a training camp for cadet and juniorgirls was also held.

Neven Cegnar, coach of the CroatianWomen’s National Team who sits courtsideadvising Tamara Boros is therefore wellacquainted with Asian women’s table ten-nis, compared European and Asian tabletennis. He gave three days of lectures thatincluded practical sessions covering suchareas as working with beginners, the dif-ferences in teaching basic techniques inAsia and Europe and the involvement ofyoung players in the competition system.

Furthermore, the participants alsoheard how he has changed practice rou-tines (nature, length, type of exercises) as aresult of recent alterations to the rules andregulations governing table tennis.

Dr. Gordana Furjan-Mandic, UniversityProfessor for Aerobics, attended the lasttwo days and explained how aerobics canhelp develop physical preparation for tabletennis players whilst Zoran Kalinic workedin the training hall co-conducting the prac-tices for the best cadet and junior players.In addition he gave all the course partici-pants a lesson on serving.

The course was conducted at a highlevel and was enhanced by the good facili-ties available in Velenje. The course partici-pants had the opportunity to hear manynew ideas and hopefully they will alsoincorporate those ideas in their daily workwith girls. Meanwhile for the young play-ers being coached by such experts was cer-tainly a source of motivation.

Zoran Kalinic with the girls in Velenje

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Trinidad & TobagoTrinidad & Tobago was the venue for theITTF Women’s Course (9th-15th July 2005)to which all Caribbean countries wereinvited; the course was very capably led byBranka Batinic.

Stan Hunte, President of both theTrinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean TableTennis Associations, alongside Vasdev BobRoopnarine, the Trinidad & TobagoSecretary General, worked tirelessly toensure a successful programme. Thirty-fourwomen from Trinidad & Tobago andGuyana attended the course.

The course was given a very high sta-tus in Trinidad with Larry Romanay,President of the Trinidad & Tobago OlympicCommittee, plus Catherine Ford from theWomen in Sport Foundation both presentat the Opening Ceremony.

However, there were difficulties butthey could not be attributed to the organ-isers. Hurricane Emily struck during thecourse causing widespread chaos, majortraffic jams, electrical disruptions andbreakdown of the mobile phone network!

Also, there was a major explosion intown which caused panic and occurredless than ten metres from where EvelioAlvarez, LATTU Development Officer, wasstanding. Fortunately, Evelio wasunharmed. Nevertheless, despite the forcesof nature, the course was able to go aheadand proved successful.

SyriaThe inaugural Women’s Coaches Course inSyria was held in Damascus under theleadership of Polona Cehovin Susin (20th-26th November 2004); the theory sessionswere held at the Faihaa Olympic Academywith the practical aspect of the coursebeing staged at the Tishreen SportsCentre.

Each day lasted approximately sevenhours with the participants coming from allthe regions of Syria and Polona was suit-ably impressed with their knowledge.

“The level of understanding exceededmy expectations”, she said. “They had agood grasp of basic techniques but theydidn’t have the experience of modern daytechniques as they only had very limitedexperience in international events.” A fur-ther effect of the absence from the inter-national scene was witnessed by the factthat the racket coverings were out of dateand thus did not enhance the teaching ofmodern day techniques.

Most of the course members were for-mer players who had recently moved intothe coaching field and were working withchildren. Therefore, the accent for thecourse was operating with beginners anddealing with topics specifically related tohelping children improve.

Everyone was willing to learn and thiswas a scenario that Polona found witheveryone in Damascus. There was a will-ingness to promote table tennis and toencourage girls and women to play.

Furthermore, Polona was impressedand somewhat surprised by the overall sit-uation in Syria where there are some forty-five clubs and three thousand five hundredregistered players.

Table tennis for leisure is very popular,the problem is the lack of national eventswhich are usually only organised twice ayear. Nevertheless, Polona was delightedby the positive attitude. UndoubtedlySyrian teams competing more regularly incompetitions in the region and on thewider international scene would seem tobe a goal that will be increasingly achievedin the very near future.

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Course members in Damascus

Course members with Branka Batinic in theCaribbean island of Trinidad & Tobago

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INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPICTABLE TENNIS COMMITTEE

A sport that began from therapeuticroots fifty years ago, table tennis isnow one of the most developed sportsat both recreation and elite levels. Itsexpansion knows no limits.

Sports for the disabled began thanksto the commitment of the visionary, Dr.Ludwig Guttman. He used sport as a wayof rehabilitation for the veterans of theSecond World War, especially those withspinal cord injuries.

In 1948, Dr Ludwig Guttman organisedthe first recorded sport event for peoplewith a disability in Stoke Mandeville,England. Undoubtedly it was no coinci-dence that the Games opened on thesame day as the 1948 Olympics in London.In Toronto, sixteen years later, athletes withother forms of disabilities were added,with the idea of all competing together.

Nowadays, the Paralympic Games is asports event for elite athletes and theemphasis is on theachievement andpotential more than onthe disability. Themovement continuesto grow from four hun-dred athletes in Rome1960, to more than fourthousand in the SydneyOlympic Games.

Same YearThe Paralympic Gamesnow take place in thesame year as the OlympicGames and since Seoul1988, they have taken placein the same city. In 2000, anagreement was signed betweenthe International ParalympicCommittee and the InternationalOlympic Committee ensuringthat the Paralympic Games willnow be organised by the sameOrganising Committee shortly afterthe Olympic Games.

Table tennis is one of the pioneers indisability sport and it has been presentfrom the beginnings of the Paralympicmovement. The first sub committeeformed was in 1970 under the auspices ofthe International Stoke Mandeville GamesFederation and assumed responsibility forwheelchair athletes.

During the First World Table TennisChampionships for all disabilities held in

1982, the different sub committees decid-ed to create a system that united all thedisabilities.

The name of International Table TennisCommittee was inaugurated in 1990 as itwas one of the first to unify all competi-tions for all disabilities. Players are separat-ed in classes according to their abilities,such that the greater the disability on theplayer’s ability to move, the lower the classin which he or she will play. Players inwheelchairs are in Classes One to Five, thestanding ones in Class Six to Ten and theintellectually disabled play in Class Eleven.

EventsThe most important event is the SummerParalympics, followed by the WorldChampionships, being held every fouryears with regional (continental) champi-onships held every two years. In a newdevelopment, Top Twelve and Top Eightevents have been introduced where thebest players or teams based on the interna-tional ranking lists compete in closedevents. There are also open tournamentsheld during the year on a regular basis.

The structure of Paralympic table tennisis divided in four regions: Europe, America,Africa-Middle East, and Far East SouthPacific. Table tennis is one of the morewidely practised sports by disabled people,

over eighty countriesplay internationally.

The future oftable tennis

for the dis-abled ispromising,the sportis movingforward.

Co-operation 2002In January 2002, Christian Lillieroos,Chair of the International Table TennisCommittee for Disabled (ITTC) heldexploratory meetings in China with theInternational Table Tennis Federation;the main item on the agenda being toincrease co-operation between the twoorganisations.

The concept was that co-operation intable tennis should not be restricted solelyto the Olympic and Paralympic Games butneeded to include the CommonwealthGames and several of the continentalchampionships such as the Pan-Am Games.

Christian Lillieroos met both AdhamSharara (ITTF President) and Jordi Serra(ITTF Executive Director) to investigateexpanding the areas of co-operation andformalising them as no formal relationshipcurrently existed

After profitable discussion it wasagreed......The first area where co-operation wasreasonable was the rules. The ITTC has aspecial service rule for wheelchair play andin wheelchair doubles the players do notalternate, they play as in tennis. It wasagreed in principle that these rules shouldbe included in the ITTF rules.......The training of officials has been a con-cern in the past but as within the ITTFUmpires and Referees Committee there areexperienced people with ITTC knowledge;if the ITTF decided to adopt ITTC rules, thetraining of officials would not be difficult toimplement. ......Development is of course of generalconcern. The ITTF Development ProgramManager, Glenn Tepper, was developing anITTF Coaching Certification Program andtogether with the ITTF President he statedthat a section about how to coachParalympic Table Tennis athletes could beincluded.

Christian Lilieroos also met a delegationfrom the Chinese Paralympic Committeeand was able to discuss the general devel-opment of Paralympic table tennis inChina, how Paralympic table tennis play-ers from China could best obtain ranking

points to qualify for the major ITTC eventsand the organisation of table tennis at the

Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2008.

Table Tennis On Wheels

Christian Lillieroos in China in 2002PHOTO COURTESY OF IPTTC

Slovenia’s Mateja Pintar, winner of the Class ThreeWomen’s Singles event at the Olympic Games in 2004

PHOTO BY IVO DRINOVEC

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Name standardised atrequest of InternationalParalympic Committee

New Title The International Table TennisCommittee for Disabled changed itsname to International Paralympic TableTennis in 2003 often with the word`Committee’ added; this was to fall inline with a request from theInternational Paralympic Committee tostandardise the names of all its sports’committees as well as to increase thelevel of association with theParalympic Movement as a whole.

The first table tennis sub-committeewas formed in the 1970s under the thenInternational Stoke Mandeville GamesFederation (now the International StokeMandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation)and was only responsible for wheelchairevents.

ClassificationsCombined classifications which led to theformation of one table tennis committeefollowed the successful introduction ofstanding players into the 1976 ParalympicGames for Amputees and Les Autres, thestaging of the 1980 Paralympic Games forCerebral Palsied and in 1982 in the inau-gural World Championships for allDisabilities.

Combined CommitteeIn the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Gamesorganised under the auspices of theInternational Coordinating Committee(later the International ParalympicCommittee), the combined committee fortable tennis was formed, with ThomasKanhede from the International SportsOrganisation of Disabled (catering mainlyfor amputees) as the chair and Ted Inge ofthe International Stoke Mandeville GamesFederation as secretary.

Pioneer SportThe use of the name International TableTennis for the Disabled dated back to asearly as 1980, eight years before the for-mation of the first combined committee.

At the Sports Assembly during theBarcelona Paralympic Games in 1992, rununder the auspices of the InternationalParalympic Committee, Tony Teff waselected as the chair, with Peter Glaese asthe treasurer.

Table tennis was without doubt thepioneer sport as it combined all disabilityclasses and was also believed to be thesport practised by the greatest number ofpersons with disabilities.

Co-operationCo-operation with the International TableTennis Federation has always been promot-ed. A meeting was held in May 2003 inMadrid at which the latter’s President andExecutive Director plus the InternationalParalympic Committee President andDirector of Sport were present.

The aim of the International ParalympicCommittee is to continue to foster closelinks with the International Table TennisFederation for the development of greateropportunities for table tennis athletes witha disability. A goal which will benefit notonly disabled sport but all sport.

PrinciplesThe principles proposed by theInternational Paralympic Table TennisCommittee in 2003 were:......Around the world, there is an increas-ing body of legislation that prohibits dis-crimination on the grounds of disabilityand this also applies to sport.......Sport should be run on the basis of thesport not on the basis of disability soemphasising the sports rather than disabili-ty model. In agreeing on this, it should beacknowledged that there is a need forminor adaptations to the rules of the gameto enable athletes with a disability to par-ticipate on an equal basis.......In order to achieve non-discriminationas well as economies of scale, there shouldbe one organisation for table tennis cater-ing for men and women as well as thosewith and without a disability.......Classification is therefore the onlymajor innovation incorporated to ensurefair competition among the different dis-ability groups.

NorwayNorway is one of the first countries inthe world to have fully integrated allaspects of paralympic athletes withable bodied, a feat achieved under theprogressive leadership of Norway TTASecretary-General, Svenn-Erik Nordby.

In 2005 at the Norway Open, formerWorld Champion, Jörgen Persson assistedwith the presentation of prizes whilst con-nected to the tournament was anInternational Paralympic Table TennisCommittee Coaching Conference organ-ised by Christian Lillieroos; the main pur-pose of the conference being to analysethe needs for Coach Education and toadopt a Coach Accreditation System.

OutcomeThe outcome was that the InternationalParalympic Table Tennis Committee(IPTTC) will become integrated into theITTF Coach Accreditation System over aperiod of time.

The IPTTC will create a six hour courseto add to the ITTF Level One CoachingCourse of twenty-four hours. Coaches whocomplete the requirements of the thirtyhours course will be ITTF and IPTTC LevelOne coaches. Meanwhile, anyone who hasalready completed the ITTF Level OneCourse need only do the six hour IPTTCCourse. At Level Two and Level Three, `ath-letes with disabilities’ will be a fully inte-grated part of the course.

IntegrationFurthermore, at the Volkswagen 48thWorld Championships a rule was passed toallow for the integration of IPTTC and ITTFathletes and a process has commenced tofully integrate IPTTC and ITTF. In matcheswhere paralympic athletes are playingagainst able bodied athletes, the able bod-ied athletes must follow the paralympicrules; thus, if the able bodied athlete play-ing a wheelchair athlete serves short orwide it is a let and in doubles a wheelchairpair are not required to alternate.

Vincent Boury of France is the electedAthletes Representative on the IPTTC, in addi-tion he is the Development Officer and worksas a Computer Security expert, specialising inMicrosoft Technology. He is a highly motivat-ed elite athlete succeeding in both his sport-ing and working life, an inspiration to all.

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IPTTC Coaching Conference in Oslo

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ITTF LEVEL ONECOACHING MANUAL

I was very happy to find many ideas which arevery modern and cover all the subjects. I foundin that excellent book, many good exercises forbeginners but also for experienced coaches, aswell as good advice for them.

For me, it is even more than a level 1 forthe coaches... in our country, in any case. As you probably know, I wrote many technicalarticles for the French TT Federation, with somesuccess, I hope but I am very fond of yourbook, which is an example for the technicalwriters of every countryPhillipe MolodzoffFrance TTF Coach Educator

Congratulations on writing the coaching manu-al for coaching level one! I`m sure that it was avery difficult task, but you managed to puttogether an exciting and interesting book thatwill help international table tennis growBenone Grigore India National Coach

I did congratulate you for the ITTF Level OneManual in Doha. It’s good work and will,indeed, be used over here Matti KolppanenFinland TTA President

Finally about your book, I should say that it iswonderful, unique, which could have beenaccomplished only with unceasing efforts.CongratulationsSima LimoochiIslamic Women's Sports Federation

The most complete and comprehensive coachesinstructional tool for intro to intermediatecoaching I've seen in my twenty-seven years ofactivityJohn AllenUSATT National Coaching Chairman

I have now read the ITTF Level 1 CoachingManual and I find it very good. Especially whenthere are four levels, from community leader toITTF Level One Coaching Course. I also like thatthere are a lot of nice pictures that shows dif-ferent moves and how to do different exercises Mats HedinSweden TTA Coach Education

All what I have seen from the material that youhave presented is very good and accurate. Youhave a rare talent in presenting things in auncomplicated but yet structured way. Mikael AnderssonITTF Junior Program Co-ordinator

As a professor at the Faculty of Sport inLjubljana I always try to get for my students asmuch information as possible. ITTF Level OneCoaching Manual is certainly the first book theyconsult and study. I must say you did a greatwork with this manual and I know how hard itis to publish such a book Miran Kondric PhDLjubljana University, Faculty of Sport

I wanted to drop you a note and let you knowhow impressed I am with your work in producingthe ITTF Level One Coaching Manual. In fact, Irecently had an opportunity to put the manual tothe test, as I gave a week long junior develop-ment camp in Indianapolis. I found your materi-als very age appropriate and the skills progres-sions right on the mark. The excellent StrokeCards, Activity Cards, and Awards Programswere very much enjoyed by the children. I havebeen creating my own teaching materials formany years now and I am very impressed withthis manual. I will be urging the USATT to adoptthis certification program as its own.Richard McAfeeUSATT

ITTF CoachAccreditationEstablished 2004

Community Leader CourseLevel: basic introductionTarget Group: community leadersAccreditation: non accredited course, participation certificate presented (3 hours)Resources: ITTF Level One Coaching Manual

School Teachers CourseLevel: basic introduction for school teachersTarget Group: school teachersAccreditation: non accredited course, participation certificate presented (6 hours)Resources: ITTF Level One Coaching Manual

Club Coach CourseLevel: basic introduction for club coachesTarget Group: club coachesAccreditation: non accredited course, participation certificate presented (12 hours)Resources: ITTF Level One Coaching Manual

ITTF Level One CourseLevel: base levelTarget Group: ITTF Development ProgramCourses, Olympic Solidarity CourseAccreditation: coaching course (24 hours);coaching practice including five hours ofsupervised coaching (30 hours); IPTTC LevelOne (6 hours)Resources: ITTF Level One CoachingManual, IPTTC Manual

ITTF Level Two CourseLevel: intermediateTarget Group: state, provincial level coaches; ITTF Development Program courses;Olympic Solidarity coursesAccreditation: coaching course (36 hours);coaching practice including ten hours ofsupervised coaching (50 hours)Prerequisite: ITTF Level One qualification

ITTF Level Three CourseLevel: advancedTarget Group: national level coaches, continental high performance coachesAccreditation: coaching course (48 hours);coaching practice including fifteen hours ofsupervised coaching (80 hours)Prerequisite: ITTF Level Two qualification

ITTF High PerformanceLevel: high performanceTarget Group: national team coachesAccreditation: coaching course (3 months);coaching practice (100 hours)Prerequisite: ITTF Level Three qualification

Best SellerThe English version of the ITTF LevelOne Coaching Manual was released inMarch 2004; a second printing tookplace in June 2004 with a total of fourthousand five hundred being soldworldwide.

Such has been the success of the pub-lication that a third printing took place inMarch 2006.

In May 2005 the manual becameavailable in French and in September 2005in Spanish.

The manual contains four cumulativecoaching courses including: CommunityLeader (three hours), School Teacher (6hours), Club Coach (12 hours) and ITTFLevel One (Twenty-four hours)The various sections include: GenericCoaching Principles, Coaching Beginnersand School Coaching, Techniques BeyondBasics, An Introduction to PhysicalTraining, An Introduction to SportsSciences plus Tournament Organisationand Rules Evaluation.

Welcomed WorldwideThe ITTF Level One Coaching Manual has been well received; the comments have beenmost favourable; a credit to the efforts of Glenn Tepper, ITTF Development Manager.

EnglishFrenchSpanish

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Ishraq Film Award

The International Table TennisFederation produced a ten minutevideo on the Ishraq project; the videowas entered in the prestigious`International Sports Movies and TVFestival’.

From several thousand films, approxi-mately two hundred are chosen for show-ing at the festival.

The table tennis film was entered inthe `Sports Society and Solidarity' section;more than four hundred films wereentered with five films being selected bythe jury as finalists in each of the sevencategories.

MilanThe finalists were invited to attend theAnnual International Sports Movies andTelevision Festival in Milan, Italy, on 3rdNovember 2004.

At the Gala evening a trailer was pre-sented for each film and the winnersannounced; for each category there wasalso a `People’s Choice Award’, which wasdecided through voting on the FédérationInternationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs’website.

VotesThe ITTF film, `Breaking Down Barriers withTable Tennis Balls - Ishraq’, gained ninety-two per cent of the on-line votes, won thePeople’s Choice Award for the categoryand also received the `Honourable MentionAward’.

Produced by ITTF DevelopmentManager, Glenn Tepper; TMS Middle Eastrepresentative, Sanya El-Aroussi;Population Council Co-ordinator, NadiaZibani plus the Egyptian Table TennisAssociation and the people of El-Minia; thefilm thus gained well deserved recognitionby the Fédération Internationale CinémaTélévision Sportifs

ITTF President, Adham Sharara, waspresent to receive both awards.

ITTF FILMSISHRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

Reflecting Social ChangeWomen involved in table tennis in Afghanistan, a source of motivation for the ITTF film

The Poster For The Film`Breaking Down Barriers withTable Tennis Balls - Ishraq’

The success of the film highlighted amajor role that an international sport-ing organisation is able to fulfill. It maywell be that such prestigious events asthe Olympic Games and WorldChampionships attract the media spot-light but there is a humanitarian ele-ment to the work of a sporting govern-ing body. The Ishraq Program broughttable tennis to members of the commu-nity who would not otherwise havebeen afforded the opportunity. Itopened doors, the film clearly illustrat-ed that fact and as a result it was justi-fiably recognised.

In 2005, as the previous year, theInternational Table Tennis Federationproduced a ten minute video; the sub-ject on this occasion being the projectin Afghanistan.

The selection procedure was the sameas in 2004; the film was entered in theprestigious `International Sports Moviesand TV Festival’ and from over a thousandfilms, `Breaking Down Barriers with TableTennis Balls-Afghanistan` was chosen asone of the two hundred films to beviewed at the Gala night.

Once again, an ITTF DevelopmentProgram film was held in great esteemand had gained due recognition.

The film was shown at the SportMovies & Television Festival held in Milan,Italy from 27th October to 1st November2005 and like its predecessor impressedmany people.

The Afghanistan film was also a jointcollaboration between the InternationalTable Tennis Federation, the InternationalOlympic Committee, the AfghanistanOlympic Committee and Tamasu Butterfly.

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REFLECTIONS

Nanthana Komwong from Thailand, a tsunami hit country, competed in the Olympic Games in 2004. Shereached Athens by succeeding in the Asian OlympicQualification Tournament; for women arguably thestrongest of all the Olympic qualification events.


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Born on 20th August 1920 he was anaccomplished player and on 19thDecember 1950 he launched theTamasu company with his father asPresident and himself as ManagingDirector.

In the Second World War he had beena soldier stationed near Hiroshima andhad witnessed the horrors of the atomicbomb that was dropped on the city. Hewanted a brand name for his product, hewanted something that everyone liked;soon after starting the company he decid-ed the name should be `Butterfly’; he hadwitnessed the hatred of war, he believedeveryone liked the butterfly.

AnniversaryOn the fiftieth anniversary Butterflydonated fifty tables to worthy causeswithin Japan and continued the policy ofdonating one table for each each year oftheir anniversary; so on the fifty-firstanniversary it was fifty-one tables and soon. It was a magnificent gesture and onewhich reflects the attitude of the greatman

In 2004, Kimihiko Tamasu, continuedthe outstanding work of his father withthe company announcing, that the ITTFDevelopment Program would be the ben-eficiary of the fifty-third anniversarytables and this would continue every sub-sequent Olympic year.

AfghanistanFurthermore, long before any interna-tional sports federation had organisedany activity in Afghanistan, Butterflymade the offer: “When you are ready togo into Afghanistan, let us know, we willhelp”.

Almost two years after that offer, theInternational Table Tennis Federation andthe International Olympic Committeemade a joint project with regards toAfghanistan. Butterfly donated almostUS$25,000 worth of tables, rackets, rub-bers and clothing.

A major effect of the support wasthat Afghanistan became the two hun-dreth member of the International TableTennis Federation at the Annual GeneralMeeting held in Shanghai in 2005.

TsunamiIn 2004, the company, as promised,donated fifty-three table tennis tables tothe ITTF Development Program.

The with the beneficiaries were:Morocco (twelve tables), Iraq (twelvetables), Cuba (twelve tables), Kiribati (sixtables), the Cook Islands (five tables) andGuam (six tables).

Furthermore, the Tamasu Companysupported the ITTF `Tsunami Rebuilding’Project and underlined their concern forthe well being of their fellow man.

The Tamasu LegacyOn Thursday 2nd July 2004, Hikosuke Tamasu, the President of the TamasuCompany, died at the age of eighty-three; his contribution to table tennis wasimmense and one of the major beneficiaries of his efforts and his philosophy-was the ITTF Development Program.

Stag, a family company based in India, has together withTamasu Butterfly, been one of the strongest supportersof the ITTF Development Program.

Led by Vivek Kohli, Stag very often puts develop-ment before profit and regularly assist in areas whereeconomic factors mean a limited potential market.

In 2001, Adham Sharara (ITTF President) and GlennTepper (ITTF Manager) met with the Federation ofInternational Table Tennis Manufacturers to ask for assis-tance with the expanded ITTF Development Program.Stag immediately offered forty of their best table tennistables without condition.

Now they supply the majority of ITTF EquipmentAssistance in Africa, Asia and Oceania. The companyoffers cost price and also provides their best table tennis

table for the price of their hobby table plus three starballs for the price of their training balls. The offers aregreatly appreciated by the benefiting associations, whilstallowing the ITTF to spread their resources further.

For the Tsunami Rebuilding Project. Stag offered fivehundred rackets, six thousand balls and one hundredshirts. Meanwhile, when the earthquake hit Pakistan in2005, they sent a large package of clothing.

In 2005, Vivek suffered the unexpected loss of hiswife and best friend. As a legacy to her memory, Stagoffered twenty tables per year for the next five years forwomen’s projects connected to the ITTF DevelopmentProgram.

On behalf of all the developing countries and theITTF. Thank you Stag! Thank you Vivek!

A Family Company

Hikosuke Tamasu (1920-2004)

Vivek KohliManaging Director of Stag

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OceaniaButterfly has also been a supporter of theOceania Development Program sinceinception in 1999, donating rackets andballs to every country visited by theOceania Development Officer.

A notable factor is that the areaswhere the goods are being sent are notlikely to provide large markets for theTamasu Company. They are donated inthe spirit envisioned by the founderHikosuke Tamasu, continued today by hisson Kimihiko and by the new CompanyPresident Shuzaku Yamada. It is the spiritof promoting peace and understandingthrough our great sport of table tennis.

Hikosuke Tamasu is sadly missed butwithout any doubt whatsoever his legacyand spirit will live on long into the future.

A coaching clinic in Guam, made possiblethanks to the support of Tamasu Butterfly

“When you are ready to go into Afghanistan,let us know, we will help” Kimihiko Tamasu

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REFLECTIONS

Travelling in the South Pacific develop-ing the game we all love best.

What a life, what a job you must think,I only need to mention Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatuand even Australia and I am quite surethese beautiful images are aroused.

Now wait, before you start e-mailingme to ask if a Development Officer needsan assistant or if there’s room in theproverbial suitcase, there is more youshould know. The fact is that this `Imagery’is only a small part of the reality of theSouth Pacific countries.

Real ChallengesThere are real people in these island coun-tries, real towns and cities (some that oftendon’t have a beach) and most of the coun-tries, especially the smaller Island countries,would be classed as `developing’. Mostface real challenges: such as trying todevelop with a lack of resources; povertyand the possibility that global warming iseven threatening their very existence.

However, even with the problems, onething that is starting to grow in many partsof the Oceania region is table tennis.Several years ago Glenn Tepper (ITTFDevelopment Program Manager) saw anopportunity in Oceania. A chance to start adevelopment program with the purpose topromote, teach and in general developtable tennis in the region; with what start-ed as a dream and a great idea, turned outto be extremely successful, lets see how.

LandTable tennis does not need a great deal ofspace, most of the countries in the SouthPacific simply do not have an excess of thismost important asset; for example, Tuvaluis the smallest of the countries that I visit-ed, the capital Funafuti has a total land-mass of 2.8 square kilometres. Soccer istheir favourite sport but where do you puta soccer field? Currently they play on theairport runway!

However, that is no surprise consider-ing how much of the land the runwaytakes up. Table tennis is thus a more feasi-ble sport for a country like Tuvalu. It wouldcome as no surprise that the sport isbecoming more popular in the island.

In Kiribati, also, there is a similar situa-tion with very little land, table tennis isnow officially the second most popularsport in the country.

Economies of Scale Compared to many sports table tennis isrelatively economical to set up, play andorganise. Sending a table tennis team orindividual athlete abroad to compete ortrain in a sport like table tennis is muchmore realistic for these developing smallisland countries.

In recent years the two main regionaltable tennis competitions (The OceaniaChampionships and the South PacificGames) have seen the largest number ofcountries enter than ever before. Most ofthe countries having a gross national prod-uct per capita of less than US$2,000; thusit is quickly understood how important it isfor the South Pacific countries to keepcosts low.

LegacyLargely the success of table tennis inOceania has come about by education andby leaving a lasting legacy in the countryso that the development of table tenniscan continue. Educating coaches to go onand teach the people within their villages,clubs and countries has helped to achievethis goal. A coaching manual that teachesabout general coaching, skills, rules andmost importantly how to make our gamefun and enjoyable has been the backboneof this programme. The manual is given tothe coaches for use in their future work,once they have completed the course. Theprogramme has also seen the rise of anational development officer scheme,locally trained and employed table tenniscoaches to develop the sport in their coun-try. Kiribati, Tonga, Palau and Tuvalu cur-rently have employed national develop-ment officers.

Assistance but few resources, it is verydifficult to achieve large results. However, the resourcefulness of some ofthe people continues to amaze. Whowould have thought that table tennis rac-quets could be somehow made out ofcoconut shells. Butterfly in Japan andAustralia have supported the programsince its inception. You can’t imagine thedifference that the twenty developmentrackets and two hundred and eighty-eighttable tennis balls donated by Butterfly toeach country visited can make.

The smiles on the faces of the childrenthat gain a chance to use this equipmentand try table tennis for their first time is

priceless. The ITTF is set to help even morein the future with table donations, whichwill hopefully see even further growth ofour loved sport in the region and evenmore smiles on young peoples faces.

RelationshipsFinally and most importantly it has beenabout building relationships.

The Oceania Table Tennis Federationhas now built up excellent relationshipswith the countries and people (or friendsas they have come to be to both Glennand myself) of Oceania. The achievementhas only been possible owing to the con-tinued support, ongoing communicationsand the fact that the people within theSouth Pacific must be amongst the nicest,easygoing people in the world.

On the other hand and before you e-mail me for that assistant job, I must tellyou there have been some experiences thatmay make you rethink. For example; sittinganxiously through a super typhoon inGuam that caused massive destruction andtook lives and developing table tennis inthe Solomon Islands at a time of extremeinstability are just two things that maymake you think twice.

PatienceAlso patience is a must. You should neverbe in a rush in the South Pacific becausetime is of no essence, you definitely do notneed a watch, there is a strict time codethat only the locals in each of the countriesunderstand. It even occasionally works forthe airlines flight schedules. My record sofar is a two and a half day delay! It shouldnot have been a surprise because it wasthe airline that the locals have come toknow as `Air Maybe’.

Although there are problems and diffi-culties and though there is still much workto be done, the table tennis seed has beensown in Oceania, especially in the SouthPacific.

I have been fortunate enough help inthe nurturing of a program that was large-ly already implemented. There is no doubtthat the positives of being the develop-ment officer in Oceania, especially thesnorkelling, far outweigh the negatives;super typhoons are definitely not fun.

So who would trade developing thesport we love in one of the best regions inthe world, Oceania? Very few I suspect.

An Idyllic Job Or Not?The role of being the Development Officer in Oceania might sound the dream job; certainly it has its advantages butas Steve Dainton explains, there are moments that make you think and you may well stare harsh reality in the face.

VanuatuPHOTO BY VANUATU TTA

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ITTF Development Report Magazine 1999-2005

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Transcript of ITTF Development Report Magazine 1999-2005