by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Now seven year later on Thursday 24th November, this time in his role as ITTF President and again accompanied by Leandro Olvech, ITTF Director – Development, Thomas Weikert once more proudly accepted the acclamation.
“I am delighted with this award and we take it as motivation to keep bringing table tennis to every corner of the world; not only for the masses, also for the minority groups and to all regions of each country. We are getting close to having national associations in all countries around the world involved in World Table Tennis Day; a move to help to consolidate development”, Thomas Weikert
At the Peace and Sport Forum staged in the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco, the “Best Peace Project” was awarded to the International Table Tennis Federation in recognition of World Table Tennis Day staged on Wednesday 6th April
The day is deliberately chosen to coincide with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, established by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee.
“We are again honoured with the Peace and Sport award. We are more and more convinced that table tennis must be popular, universal and inclusive. I would like to dedicate this award to the 196 organizers that held an event in 83 countries this year, to my mentor the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Tepper and to Wiebke Scheffler who is working with me on this project. We will be happy to have more organizers on the next edition of World Table Tennis Day to be held on Thursday 6th April 2017!”
Masterminded by the tireless efforts of Leandro Olvech, impressively this year there were some 400 initiatives, a quite remarkable figure considering it was only the second edition.
Now established, the concept, which is based on having fun, enjoying playing table tennis with the competitive element a most minor consideration, is gaining momentum.
The best of the 2016 World Table Tennis Day
An example to all other sporting organisations, World Table Tennis Day sets standards, it underlines the value of table tennis as a communicator and without doubt it is surely set grow; 2017 promises to be bigger than ever.