[adham]

Hey guys and gals,

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR !

very interesting posts. I will try to address lot of the points here. But I would like to apologize to Noppen-Lord for what seemed to be a condescending remark from my part. Sorry about that. Of course we can have a drink together anytime you like. But I was annoyed to be told that he joined the rule breakers because of a lack of control at the event. Yes, of course I broke the speed limit and sometimes got away with it and sometimes I got a ticket (when police caught me). But my point is that we should find ways to discourage those that do not follow rules instead of joining them. We are all human and we all break rules sometimes, I fully accept this.

All of you are right about the Boosters and Tuners. The ITTF was very slow in reacting to these substances. Any kind of additive was always illegal. It was NEVER legal. But because it was produced by respectable companies and ITTF let it happen, then many assumed it was OK to use. When ITTF woke up and made it clear that it was not legal, then many players became angry. I fully understand. But now we are trying to get back on track. In the future, maybe additives such as boosters and tuners that are completely safe (biologocal products) could be allowed if the national associations propose and support such a move. But until then we need to respect the current rules, of which I just broke my own rule about not discussing Boosters and Tuners. But I am the president and it's new Year's eve, so please allow me to say the last thing about it: the ITTF analyzed in the lab 5 boosters/tuners on the market and found ALL to contain VOCs and at least 2 containing poison (if injected by a child would have serious consequences). We reported to the 5 companies and at least 4 of them (maybe all now) stopped producing these substances. I know that there are claims of fully safe and biological "oils" that are not harmful and would be applied only on the sponge and would not affect the rubber, and would pass the Enez test. Maybe in the future we could look at these substances.

People who are mad at the ITTF do not make sense to me. It;s like being mad at the Government, or being mad at the World. The ITTF may not be the most brilliant organization in the World, but it is also not the most stupid. All rules have reasons behind them, and no matter how long one explains a reason, someone will not accept, may not understand, and may not like it; so the reaction "ITTF is stupid". OK, this is normal and we must live with it. But in fact everyone in the ITTF tries his/her best to make our sport the best it could be. Yes, it is getting more popular, just this forum is proof to me. Yes, it is more on TV and we still have a long way to go. But we try every day. Yes, we have big compnaies interested in our sport now, and we try every day to get more. And, yes, we do care about ALL players, but we can only control the ITTF events. Every player is important in Zimbabwe or in Solomon Islands. The ITTF now has 205 member national associations and we have delivered free equipment and technical courses to more than 120 of our members associations.

Let's find together the right way forward. Let's respect the rules, let's understand the flexibility in some rules, let's be logical, let's be sensible, and let's enjoy the game of ping pong or table tennis the best we can without obsessing about equipment and about cheaters. If you want to make a change, lobby on the right way and go through your national association.

By the way, some of you like to criticize the German TTA (DTTB). I have constant contact with them and I can assure you that it is one of the best associations in the ITTF. The presdient of the DTTB is young and dynamic, he loves to play TT himself, he fully understands the needs of the average player, he is positive, had great ideas, he is very positive, he is a problem solver and he is surrounded by experienced and TT loving people. I wish he would be on my team at the ITTF. The DTTB works very hard in making TT more popular and they have many challenges, but they will succeed with persistence and hard work.

I also would like to congratulate Contenthouse a company working close with the DTTB in getting more TT on German TV and in transmitting league matches on the Internet. This is all great progress and the ITTF supports these actions.

Let's be positive, let's find solutions and let's look more at the big picture and make our sport the greatest in the World. But the most important thing I can say to you all: get out and play Table Tennis !

Happy New Year to each and all of you !!