The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has demonstrated significant progress in governance, as evidenced by the Fifth Review of International Federation Governance published by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) on 25 June 2024.
The review, which assesses international sports federations on various governance criteria, showed marked improvements for the ITTF across all five evaluated sections: Integrity, Democracy, Development, Control Mechanisms, and notably, Transparency, where the ITTF achieved a near-perfect score.
ITTF President and IOC Member Petra Sörling expressed her satisfaction, stating, “Good Governance was a cornerstone of my manifesto, and I am proud to witness the ITTF’s continuous progress during my tenure. The ITTF Executive Board and Integrity Unit have been very committed, and our staff, under the project leadership of the ITTF Secretary General, have made significant efforts. Together, we will persist as there is always room for improvement. The ASOIF Review is an invaluable benchmark that measures our Federation against the highest standards of the international sports community. I extend my gratitude to ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and the Governance Task Force for their meticulous work.”
The latest review introduced 10 new measurable indicators, aligning the questionnaire with the revised IOC Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance (BUPGG). The ITTF outperformed the average on all new indicators. Furthermore, the Federation improved its score in the 50 indicators from the 2021-2022 review, reflecting its ongoing commitment to excellence.
Noteworthy advancements since the previous review include significant initiatives in sustainability. Over recent years, the ITTF has prioritized sustainability, signing UN frameworks, forming dedicated committees, and unveiling its Sustainability Action Plan 2025.
ASOIF also highlighted the ITTF’s efforts to bolster governance among its member associations. The Participation Programme, introduced in 2021, has successfully disseminated good governance principles throughout the membership, showcasing tangible benefits.
Wahid Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President in charge of Governance, remarked, “Collaborating with our Member Associations is essential to harness our collective expertise and robust partnerships, promoting global expansion of our sport in a sustainable and responsible manner. This review acknowledges the ITTF’s dedication to leading in good governance and provides the impetus for our future progress.”
For the first time, all 32 member federations achieved the target score of 150 out of a possible 240. This milestone underscores the effectiveness of the project led by ASOIF’s Governance Task Force, aimed at fostering a culture of good governance within International Federations and driving continuous improvement.
The full ASOIF Fifth Review of International Federation Governance is available here.