Hello from ITTF President

[Zwetschg'nmanschgerl]

Dear Adham,

thank you very much for participating in this forum in such an active and at the same time patient way. Me, personally, I like playing with the 40mm ball and the 11 points per set-rule is ok, too. I've never used long pimples or speed glue, and your comparing speed glue to doping is somehow convincing. At the regional level, there are still difficulties in applying the rules though and, obviously, the players' sense of wrongdoing - as you've stated, that might be due to now being a time of change.

But for me some questions remain:

(1) In some of your posts you have pointed out that the ITTF is only competent/responsible for the international level - still you must be aware that your decisions have of course a direct impact on the national level. Technically, all member associations could keep or make their own rules, but I'd assume that the "UK-way" is an exception. And would the ITTF be happy with table tennis being played differently and with different material all over the world?

(2) In my opinion, one of the most fascinating - if not THE most fascinating - elements of table tennis is producing, perceiving and reacting to spin, the rotation of the ball. Its importance is, of course, known to any active player. But when spin is involved, it's sometimes hard to comprehend for the "non-player-" audience why a professional player has made a seemingly easy mistake. My assumption is, that this is a "natural" barrier for table tennis becoming the No.1 TV sport. What do you think?

(3) Or, more generally: do you agree, that there are natural limits in the capacity of table tennis as a TV sport?
(Btw, I'm very impressed that it's the No. 5 Olympic sport already.)

(4) It has shown that most spectators at table tennis events are themselves active players (assumingly at least partly due to No.(2)). So POPULARITY and PARTICIPATION are closely connected in our sport, probably more than in other sports.
Given this, shouldn't the ITTF and the national associations put more effort in keeping or gaining members than on tailoring table tennis to presumed requirements of the media? (45 mm ball, higher nets?!?)

(5) Are there serious concerns in the ITTF about frustrated members founding their own federation? Or is this regarded as unprobable or even a necessary evil?

Thanks, again, for your time and effort. Looking forward to reading from you,

Michae

[adham]

Zitat von Zwetschg'nmanschgerl

But for me some questions remain:

(1) In some of your posts you have pointed out that the ITTF is only competent/responsible for the international level - still you must be aware that your decisions have of course a direct impact on the national level. Technically, all member associations could keep or make their own rules, but I'd assume that the "UK-way" is an exception. And would the ITTF be happy with table tennis being played differently and with different material all over the world?

(2) In my opinion, one of the most fascinating - if not THE most fascinating - elements of table tennis is producing, perceiving and reacting to spin, the rotation of the ball. Its importance is, of course, known to any active player. But when spin is involved, it's sometimes hard to comprehend for the "non-player-" audience why a professional player has made a seemingly easy mistake. My assumption is, that this is a "natural" barrier for table tennis becoming the No.1 TV sport. What do you think?

(3) Or, more generally: do you agree, that there are natural limits in the capacity of table tennis as a TV sport?
(Btw, I'm very impressed that it's the No. 5 Olympic sport already.)

(4) It has shown that most spectators at table tennis events are themselves active players (assumingly at least partly due to No.(2)). So POPULARITY and PARTICIPATION are closely connected in our sport, probably more than in other sports.
Given this, shouldn't the ITTF and the national associations put more effort in keeping or gaining members than on tailoring table tennis to presumed requirements of the media? (45 mm ball, higher nets?!?)

(5) Are there serious concerns in the ITTF about frustrated members founding their own federation? Or is this regarded as unprobable or even a necessary evil?

Thanks, again, for your time and effort. Looking forward to reading from you,

Michae

Hey, now you're talking. These are the kind of questions that make me wish we had a "transponder" from Startreck so I could be "transponded" over to you and we could discuss your questions for a few hours over some tea, coffee or a beer. In any case, I will try to answer briefly here:

(1) Yes, of course we realize that in most cases the ITTF's rules are adpoted "as is" by many national associations. Usually the national associations adopt our "Table Tennis Laws" exactly as they are. There are very few exceptions. However, our international competition rules that appear in Chapter 4 and 5 of our Handbook are often used as a "guide" only by the national associations. For example, the team match format is different in each country. Some follow the ITTF systems and many don't, they just adopt the system that is mnost suitable to their needs. I personally like the approach of the English TTA. They apply the ITTF rules exactly up to a certain level, then below that level they give the freedom to the local authorities to do as they please. Why not? In fact, for me that would be the good model to follow. And to answer your question, yes, I would not mind to see different ways of playing TT all over the world as long as it pleases those that play, and as long that as of a certain level (national + international) all are playing according to the same rules.

(2) and (3)
I fully agree with you. Spin variations are the most fascinating aspects of TT. In fact the ability to vary the spin and vary the speed are the most crucial elements of a successful player. To produce maximum spin or maximum speed is easy to counter once you know the magnitude. But to receive a variety of spins and speed, coupled with good placement is what makes TT the sport it is. Of course this is very difficult for a spectator to detect and appreciate, and that is what makes our sport difficult to sell on TV. But we try our best through slow motion cameras, expert commentators, etc., to overcome this difficulty for the average spectator. I agree that TT may never become a full TV spectator sport, but believe me, we try very hard to work with TV sports producers to show our sport in the best possible way. In Barcelona Olympics we ranked 24th (out of 26 sports then) in terms of TV ratings. In Athens we were 5th out of 28 sports. We just received an independent study made by ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic Sports federations) on the Chinese and UK markets only. We ranked 4th in China overall and 12th in the UK overall out of 28 sports. We are now waiting for the IOC's ratings which are based on a study in 35 major markets across the world. I am very proud of the strides TT has made on TV and we keep on pushing. However, we are now preparing a very heavy campaign to put ALL our events live on itTV to allow the entire world to see ALL our events on the Internet. We hope to achieve this in 2009.

(4) Your assessment is correct. However both activities go hand in hand. However, based on our experience, we find that if TT is on TV in a certain area it increases the participation levels, and then as the participation levels increase it becomes easier to sell our events to the TV and so on. So it's an upward spiral. So both activities are necessary, but TV remains very important. In the mentality of people, especially sponsors, being on Tv gives a certain legitimacy to the sport.

(5) There are really no such concerns at all. We believe the numbers to be small, and as long as we believe we are doing the right thing, and we know we cannot please 100% of the people, then we are not concerned. Of course we would prefer to please 100% of the people, but that is impossible. If the grievances reach a point and a magnitude that some group wishes to splinter and form their own association, so be it. We would never make any attempts to stop it. At the end our goal is for as many people as possible to "enjoy" playing our game within or outside our system.

Adham

[Neptune]

Mr. Sharara,

Thanks for your patience and time for us.

You said we should wait 1-2 years and see what's happening.
For the meantime though, sorry, I must come up again with a question regarding rubbers. I guess a big reason why people are fightin for their frictionless pimples is (besides they would still like to play them) another one. If those people are investing their time and money in an alternative rubber (like anti, short pimple, long pimple with friction/low friction) they want to be sure that this investment is future-proofed. If somebody would be able to tell them that it is, maybe some or even a lot of players will not use illegal frictionless long pimples no more and instead of this invest in a new style of playing with a new rubber. I know you are not able to grant that, but do you have any idea how such a reliance could be given? That might be ONE good way to go on first. But those players need reliance. When this is broke they quit or play illegal material.

Neptune

[adham]

Zitat von Neptune

Mr. Sharara,

Thanks for your patience and time for us.

You said we should wait 1-2 years and see what's happening.
For the meantime though, sorry, I must come up again with a question regarding rubbers. I guess a big reason why people are fightin for their frictionless pimples is (besides they would still like to play them) another one. If those people are investing their time and money in an alternative rubber (like anti, short pimple, long pimple with friction/low friction) they want to be sure that this investment is future-proofed. If somebody would be able to tell them that it is, maybe some or even a lot of players will not use illegal frictionless long pimples no more and instead of this invest in a new style of playing with a new rubber. I know you are not able to grant that, but do you have any idea how such a reliance could be given? That might be ONE good way to go on first. But those players need reliance. When this is broke they quit or play illegal material.

Neptune

Yes, you are right. I completely agree with you. Personally, it it were only up to me, I would only apply the ITTF rules to the International and National levels only and let the rest of the world play as they please. But I do not make the rules of the national associations and I respect their decisions.

What I can guarantee is that I will not support any further changes to any rules regarding racket coverings. However, I will push for strict implementation of the current rules as follows:

- VOCs ban
- detecting and eliminating boosters, tuners and any other additives
- 4 mm thickness
- ensuring that the rubbers are not altered after approval
- enforcing the 25mN minimum friction level
- ensuring that all current rules are respected and implemented at the international level.

I am not sure how much comfort this gives you, but I agree with you that we do not need any further rules to control the racket coverings. However, on the other hand we hope that players stop cheating and use real sportsmanship and follow the honour system as a fundamental value of sport.

Adham

[Neptune]

@adham

Thanks for your points of view. I agree with you in all points. So let's wait 1-2 years and see how things will evolve. I take your words for real and from now on I decided for myself not to use an illegal rubber (as I wrote before, when my further tests would fail) in the meantime.
I hoped the german assoziation would show the courage here like you do. But they just follow the old style: "eat or die". And that is no good at all.
Furthermore I wished the national assoziations (especially in Germany, cause I live her) would have the same logical thinking as you and the british assoziation and would adopt the new rule just for the top leagues.

What about the 25mn? I remember that I read somewhere that they are only guilty for long pimples (it might have been in the DTS magazine or a statement from ODD Gustavsen that I read about).

Neptune

[No_Name_Surfer]

@adham
I'm not using any glue, boosters or other stuff. So my son will see the best possible fair play of his father . I'm playing table tennis because I love it and I want to have fun.

Hopefully you will find very quickly a solution for the current situation. When my son starts to play table tennis, I want a clear situation about the rules. This is my order to you

I will come back to you latest in 2 years

Thanks

[adham]

Zitat von Neptune

What about the 25mn? I remember that I read somewhere that they are only guilty for long pimples (it might have been in the DTS magazine or a statement from ODD Gustavsen that I read about).

Neptune

I believe that the 25mN applies to all rubbers.

Adham

[adham]

Zitat von No_Name_Surfer

I'm not using any glue, boosters or other stuff. So my son will see the best possible fair play of his father . I'm playing table tennis because I love it and I want to have fun.

Hopefully you will find very quickly a solution for the current situation. When my son starts to play table tennis, I want a clear situation about the rules. This is my order to you

I will come back to you latest in 2 years

Thanks

It's a deal.

Adham

[Neptune]

Zitat von adham

I believe that the 25mN applies to all rubbers.

Adham

But that would mean, that I cannot try/play an antispin rubber. That wouldn't make sense (most antis and short pimples would not get the authorization any more) and my plan of trying a new rubber (anti) in the meantime would be over before it starts. Also this would expand the "ban" and we would have it not ""only"" for frictionless long pimples but also for antis and short pimples. That would make the situation even worse than I thought!!! Could you please check that important point (cause you said "I believe")?
I'm 100% sure that I read that the 25mn is only guilty for long pimples (unfortunately I cannot remember where it was).

Neptune

[adham]

Zitat von Neptune

But that would mean, that I cannot try/play an antispin rubber. That wouldn't make sense (most antis and short pimples would not get the authorization any more) and my plan of trying a new rubber (anti) in the meantime would be over before it starts. Also this would expand the "ban" and we would have it not ""only"" for frictionless long pimples but also for antis and short pimples. That would make the situation even worse than I thought!!! Could you please check that important point (cause you said "I believe")?
I'm 100% sure that I read that the 25mn is only guilty for long pimples (unfortunately I cannot remember where it was).

Neptune

OK, I will check this and let you know.

Adham