INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION

2014 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the International Table Tennis Federation held on Wednesday 30 April 2014 at 09h00 in the Prince Room, B1, Takanawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo, Japan.

1. Welcome and opening address: the President welcomed all delegates to the meeting and thanked the Japanese Table Tennis Association for organising what were effectively 2 world championships in parallel, in two separate venues, and both at a very high level. The President noted the passing away in the past year of 4 ITTF officials who had contributed to table tennis over their lifetimes, namely Messrs Hans Giesecke, Nils Bergström, Ranga Ramanujan and Helios Farrell.

2. Appointment of a Chair: the AGM delegates appointed the President, Mr. Adham Sharara, to chair the meeting.

3. Roll call of associations present and verification of proxies: the AGM noted that there were 138 associations present, 11 proxies allocated for a total 149 votes and, therefore, a quorum was fulfilled.

4. Appointment of scrutineers:

1-AGM-04-2014 The AGM appointed the following persons as scrutineers: Africa: Nganga and Joyce Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare Asia: Somchay Vongsa and Yelena Druzhkova Europe: Gottfried Forsthuber and Zdenko Kriz Latin America: Sergio Blanco and Ivan Santos North America: Anton Kiesenhofer and Kagin Lee Oceania: Will Goodier and Paul Kyle

5. Confirmation of the minutes of the AGM held on 15 May 2013 in Paris, France: the AGM confirmed the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 15 May 2013, and the Chair signed the minutes.

6. Presentations: the AGM acknowledged the contributions made by the following persons and organisations: 6.1 Merit award: Abilio Carvalho da Cruz 6.2 Other presentations to:

1 • the Japanese TTA for the outstanding organisation of the 2014 World Championships. • Zen-Noh for its title sponsorship support to the World Championships. • Double Happiness for its sponsorship support to the World Championships. • Butterfly for its sponsorship support to the World Championships. • STARTS for its sponsorship of the World Championships. • the Lion Corporation for its contribution to the World Championships. • the Nippon Life Insurance Company for its contribution to the World Championships. • the Kyowa Hakko Kirin Company for its contribution to the World Championships. • TV Tokyo as an outstanding Host Broadcaster of the World Championships. • the German TTA for the best World Tour event held in 2013. • the Hong Kong TTA for the best Global Junior Circuit event held in 2013. • the Japan TTA for the best World Cup held in 2013 (Women World Cup). • the UAE TTA for hosting the 2013 World Tour Grand Finals. • the Moroccan TTA for hosting the 2013 World Junior Championships. • the Slovenian TTA for hosting the 2013 World Cadet Challenge. • the Portuguese TTA for hosting the 2013 Global Junior Circuit Finals. • the Australian TTA for the best ITTF-Continental event hosted in 2013. • Mr Glenn Tepper, Deputy CEO, for outstanding professional service to the ITTF for 15 years. • Messrs Igor Levitin, Neil Harwood and Koji Kimura as new members of the President’s Advisory Council (PAC). 6.3 2015 World Championships: a visual presentation made and an update given by the organising committee of the World Championships to be held in Suzhou, China. 6.4 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games: a visual presentation made by Mr Edimilson Pinheiro on behalf of Rio 2016.

7. Applications for membership: given that all documentation was in order, the AGM resolved to accept the following applications for membership received from: 7.1 American Virgin Islands. 7.2 Mali.

2-AGM-04-2014 The AGM unanimously approved the membership application from American Virgin Islands and Mali as the 219th and 220th members of the ITTF respectively.

As a result of the acceptance of new members, the AGM noted that the ITTF now had 220 member associations and is tied with FIVB (Volleyball) in terms of most member associations.

2 8. Report of the Nominations Committee: the AGM noted the report and that, for appointments for committees to be made in 2015, associations should consider nominating more women.

9. Annual reports from the Executive Committee: the AGM adopted the following reports: 9.1 President: Adham Sharara (document A1) together with a visual presentation “Then and Now – April 2014” 9.2 Deputy President: Thomas Weikert (document A2) 9.3 Senior Executive Vice-President: Khalil Al-Mohannadi (document A3) 9.4 Executive Vice President (Finance): Petra Sörling (document A4) 9.5 Executive Vice-President: Patrick Gillmann (document A5) 9.6 Executive Vice-President: Chérif Hajem (document A6) 9.7 Executive Vice-President: Masahiro Maehara (document A7) 9.8 Executive Vice-President: Melecio Rivera (document A8) 9.9 Executive Vice-President: Shi Zhihao (document A9)

10. Annual reports from the Continental Federations: the AGM adopted the following reports: 10.1 Africa (document B1) 10.2 Asia (document B2) 10.3 Europe (document B3) 10.4 Latin America (document B4) 10.5 North America (document B5) 10.6 Oceania (document B6)

The AGM congratulated Mr Ronald Kramer and Mr James Morris on their election as President of Europe TT Union and Oceania TT Federation respectively.

11. Annual reports from the CEO, Deputy CEO and Directors: the AGM adopted the following reports: 11.1 Chief Executive Officer (document C1) 11.2 Deputy Chief Executive Officer (document C2) 11.3 Competitions Program (document C3) 11.4 Development Program (document C4) 11.5 Education and Training Program (document C5) 11.6 Marketing Program (document C6) 11.7 Operations Program (document C7)

12. Annual reports from the committees: the AGM adopted the following reports: 12.1 Equipment Committee (document D1) 12.2 Media Committee (document D2) 12.3 Nominations Committee (document D3) 12.4 Para Table Tennis Division (document D4) 12.5 Rules Committee (document D5) 12.6 Sports Science and Medical Committee (document D6) 12.7 Technical Commissioner (document D7) 12.8 Umpires’ and Referees’ Committee (document D8) 12.9 Olympic and Paralympic Commission (document D9)

3 The AGM noted that: • 4 plastic balls, from manufacturers, had now been approved and the new plastic balls would be available to associations by the end of May 2014. • the associations should consider sending their sports scientists and medical experts to the 2015 Sports Science Congress in Suzhou, China, prior to the 2015 World Championships.

13. Finance: the AGM noted: 13.1 Audited Financial Statements 2013: that these had been unavoidably delayed, that the consolidated audit would be circulated as soon as it was available and then presented for approval in 2015 together with the audited financial statements for 2014. 13.2 Appointment of auditors: it was recommended by the CEO that the current auditors, Ernst and Young, be re-appointed.

3-AGM-04-2014 The AGM resolved to appoint Ernst and Young as the ITTF’s auditors for the 2014 financial year.

14. Ratification of the work done by the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

4-AGM-04-2014 The AGM resolved to ratify the work done by the Board of Directors and Executive Committee since the last meeting.

15. Propositions and resolutions (document F): the AGM considered the following propositions, which required a 2/3 majority (66.67%) of votes cast:

Proposed by the Athletes’ Commission Defeated

To amend 1.5.3.1: 1.5.3.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the In favour President and 8 Executive Vice-Presidents of which 59.2% one shall be nominated by the President as Deputy President and another one shall be responsible for 1 finance; the Chair of the Athletes’ Commission, or his or her appointee, shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee with a no vote and should an appointee of the Athletes’ Commission attend, he or she shall have no vote at Executive Committee meetings.

Effective date: 5 May 2014 Proposed by the Executive Committee Passed

To add to 1.19.4.1.1 under AGM procedure: 2 1.19.4.1.1 the appointment of a Chair: 1.19.4.1.1.1 who shall be nominated by the Executive In favour Committee and elected by the AGM; 83.5%

4 1.19.4.1.1.2 whose term of office shall coincide with that of the Executive Committee; 1.19.4.1.1.3 who may be re-elected.

Effective date: 1 September 2014 (exceptionally for the first mandate)

The AGM considered the following propositions, which required a 3/4 majority (75%) of the votes cast:

Proposed by the Rules Committee Passed

2.5 DEFINITIONS In favour To delete the current 2.5.14 and re-number 2.5.15 as 75.7% 3 2.5.14: 2.5.14 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes anywhere other than between the net and the net post or between the net and the playing surface. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Defeated

To amend 2.6.2: In favour 2.6.2 The server shall then project the ball near vertically 49.3% 4a upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 30 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Defeated

To amend 2.6.2: 2.6.2 The server shall then project the ball near vertically In favour 4b upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at 50% least 30 or 16cm after leaving the open palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck. Proposed by the Rules Committee Passed

To amend 2.6.3:

THE SERVICE: 5 2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it In favour touches first his or her court and then after passing 82.5% over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Defeated

To amend 2.6.4: In favour 6 2.6.4 From the start of service While it is projected 42.8% upwards until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's

5 end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Defeated

To amend 2.6.4: 2.6.4 From the start of service until it is struck, the ball In favour 7 shall be above the level of the playing surface and 36% behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver nor from the umpire and assistant umpire by the server or his or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Withdrawn

To amend 2.6.5 (if 7 above is accepted): 2.6.5 As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s 8 free arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net. The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net including its extension to the umpires and its indefinite upward extension. Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Withdrawn

To amend 2.6.5: 9 2.6.5 As soon as the ball starts falling has been projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall be completely off removed from the space between the ball and the net. Proposed by the Rules Committee Passed

To amend 2.7.1: In favour THE RETURN 82.5% 10 2.7.1 The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly. Proposed by the Rules Committee Passed

To amend 2.9.1.1: In favour The rally shall be a let….. 82.5% 11 2.9.1.1 if in service the ball in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it the net assembly, provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his or her partner; Proposed by the Rules Committee Passed

To add a new paragraph 2.10.1.5 and re-number the current 2.10.1.5 to 2.10.1.14 as 2.10.1.6 to 2.10.1.15 as a In favour 12 consequence: 82.5%

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point….. 2.10.1.5 if the ball, after being struck by an opponent,

6 passes through the net or between the net and the net post or between the net and the playing surface;

Proposed by the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation Defeated

To amend 2.10.1.8: In favour 13 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point….. 48.2% 2.10.1.8 if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, displaces the table or a table half or lifts its table top moves the playing surface;

Note: There was one collective vote for propositions 5, 10, 11 and 12, because they all related to the same change.

The AGM considered the following Resolution, which required a simple majority of the votes cast:

Proposed by Chinese Table Tennis Association Passed

That the ITTF support and encourage ball suppliers, In favour A manufacturers and national associations to invest in the 85.8% research on coloured balls (balls that of two or more colours), to see if current white/orange balls could be replaced.

16. Future world championships: the AGM noted the: 16.1 Update on the 2015 World Championships in Suzhou. 16.2 Selection of host of the 2017 ITTF World Championships: a provisional bid had been received from Germany with the city not selected yet. It would be confirmed within 6 months and failing that, the bid process would be re-opened.

17. Planning DBI and P5 update: the AGM noted that: • the process had been launched in Dubai in January 2014. • a number of proposals and objectives for the ITTF had been already received. • the second phase for input had recently been opened inviting the wider table tennis community to contribute its ideas.

18. Revisions to the Constitution: the AGM noted: 18.1 Timelines: a preliminary draft had been produced and further refinements would be implemented for approval by the AGM in the future. 18.2 Affiliation of Continental Federations: 5 continental federations had signed the affiliation agreements, which provided for development funding and marketing support. 18.3 Nomination and appointment of Chair: the Executive Committee nominated Mr Adham Sharara to be the Chair of the AGM till the next elections in 2017 and to be assigned additional responsibilities by the Executive Committee. The nomination was submitted to the AGM for a vote with simple majority required.

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5-AGM-04-2014 The AGM resolved to appoint Mr Adham Sharara as Chair with effective date of 1 September 2014 until, and including, the AGM in 2017.

- Passed with 89.9% votes in favour

The AGM noted the President’s intention to retire from the Presidency with effect from 1 September 2014 and the reasons he had provided for this decision. The Deputy President confirmed, that as president, he intended to implement the P5 plan with development at its heart and to work with the membership of the associations and the Executive Committee, to take the ITTF to new heights.

19. Next AGM: the AGM noted that its next meeting would be held in Suzhou on 28 April 2015.

20. Any other business: the AGM noted the plea from the Jersey TTA for being an equal member to all other members of the ITTF and for wishing to maintain the possibility to participate in the world championships.

21. Adjournment: there being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 13h14.

______Adham Sharara Date Meeting Chair

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ATTENDANCE REGISTER

Function Name Present Adham Sharara Thomas Weikert Khalil Al-Mohannadi Patrick Gillmann

Executive Committee Chérif Hajem Masahiro Maehara Melecio Rivera Shi Zhihao Petra Sörling Khaled El-Salhy Proxy for Mozambique Cai Zhenhua Apologies Continental Ronald Kramer presidents Oswaldo Borges + Delegate VEN Bruce Burton James Morris Delegate CIV / Proxy for Berthe A. Bakhary Guinea Fortuné Luc Olivier Guezo + Delegate BEN

Monqid El Hajji Proxy for Mauritania

Hao Thyn Voon Apologies

Henry Djombo Board of Directors Olabanji Oladapo Apologies

Thomas Kiggundu Proxy for Senegal Afshin Badiee Ali Sultan Al-Muftah + Delegate QAT Mohammad Sibtain Park Do Cheon Dhanraj Choudhary Thana Chaiprasit Tony Yue Alexander Murdoch Cristinel Romanescu Dorte Darfelt Aleksandar Matkovic Christian Palierne + Delegate FRA Francesco Sciannimanico Walter Rönmark Zdenko Kriz + Delegate SVK Alaor G. P. Azevedo Nestor Tenca Leonel Aguilar Ivan Santos

Juan Vila + Delegate DOM

Sergio Arturo Blanco

Anthony Ho Apologies Graeme Ireland (Technical) Dorte Darfelt (PTT)

9 Athletes' Wang Liqin (ipo Vladimir Samsonov) Observer Equipment Federico Lineros + Delegate ESP Media Arne Madsen Nominations Chan Foong Keong Rules Rudolf Sporrer Sport Science and Miran Kondric Medical URC Ronald Wee Veterans Reto Bazzi Women's Hajera Kajee + Delegate RSA

Xu Yinsheng Apologies George Segun André Damman Henry Yue Apologies Rufford Harrison Apologies Han Sang Kook President’s Advisory Colin Clemett Council Eberhard Schöler Shahrokh Shahnazi Radivoj Hudetz Jane Pinto Neil Harwood Koji Kimura + Delegate JPN Igor Levitin + Delegate RUS

ASSOCIATIONS Present AFGHANISTAN AMINZAI Sayed Shah ALBANIA BINOSHAJ Tonin ALGERIA ZITOUNI Kamel ANGOLA CRUZ Abilio ARGENTINA ALTO Matias GOODIER William AUSTRALIA MALES Philip AUSTRIA FORSTHUBER Gottfried AZERBAIJAN ZUDOV Aleksandr BAHRAIN KAWAZ Nasser RAHMAN Zobera BANGLADESH KARIM Md Abdul JACKMAN Ray BARBADOS CLARKE Glyne BELARUS IVANENKA Piotr DENYS Jacques BELGIUM MUREAU Jean Michel BELIZE SALAZAR Luis BENIN GUEZO Fortune (also BoD) BOSNIA & ANTONIC Slavko HERZEGOVINA BOTSWANA SELEMA Thebe EMERENCIANO Paula BRAZIL ARAUJO Walquiria BULGARIA KITOV Stefan BURKINA FASO NANEMA Denis CAMBODIA SUN Sothearith 10 CAMEROON BAGUEKA ASSOBO Alfred + Proxy for Gambia JACKSON David CANADA KIESENHOFER Anton CAYMAN ISLANDS RASINEN Asko CHILE HERRERA Omar ZHANG Xiaopeng CHINA LIU Yi CHINESE TAIPEI HUNG Tsung-Min COLOMBIA URIBE Pedro OKOUNA OLANDZOBO Jean Marie + Proxy for Gabon CONGO B NGANGA Jean COSTA RICA CASTRO Ricardo COTE D'IVOIRE BAKHARY Berthe (also BoD) MUNIVRANA Ivo Goran CROATIA POSPIS Danijela CUBA ESNARD Carlos GEORGIOU Andreas CYPRUS PAPADOPOULOS Marios SPACEK Zbynek CZECH REP ENDAL Nikolas RASMUSSEN Asger Rauhauge DENMARK SUNDBAEK Peter DJIBOUTI FARAH Hassan Farah +Proxy for Somalia DOMINICAN REP VILA REINOSO Juan (also BoD) FAJARDO Freddy ECUADOR ROMERO Douglas EGYPT ABDELKARIM Bassam + Proxy for Sudan EL SALVADOR WANG Shan-Wu DEATON Sandra ENGLAND SUTCLIFFE Sara ESTONIA MÄNNIK Marko FAROE ISLANDS BERNER Jan GREFBERG Sonja FINLAND RASANEN Mika PALIERNE Christian (also BoD) FRANCE RIGAUD Christian SCHIMMELPFENNIG Dirk GERMANY AHLERT Heike GREECE KOLIBADIS Emmanuel GUAM JI James HERRERA Jorge GUATEMALA LOPEZ Boris WEBB Derek GUERNSEY WEBB Christine JACQUES Frantz HAITI EDOUARD Mariette CHAN Cheong Ki HONG KONG CHIU Echo HUNGARY GARA István ICELAND SVERRISSON Sigurdur Valur CHATURVEDI Prabhat Chandra INDIA BANERJEE Arun Kumar ZAREPOUR ASHKZARI Mohammad IRAN TABRIZIFAR Faeze IRELAND MARTIN Tony

11 ISLE OF MAN MACFARLANE Malcolm ITALY FRIGO Gianluigi JAMAICA LOTHIAN Godfrey KIMURA Koji (also PAC) JAPAN YOKOTA Sachiko JERSEY BAND Christopher JORDAN SHARABI Fawwaz Othman Shukri BEISALIYEV Malik KAZAKHSTAN DRUZHKOVA Yelena MUDIBO Andrew Immanuel KENYA GITURWA John Gicaci JU Jong Chol KOREA DPR KO Chol Ho KYRGYZSTAN AHMEDOV Rashid KOREA YUN Seunghee ÇITAKU Nehat KOSOVO FAZLIJA Aferdita ALMEHTEB Talal KUWAIT ALDEAHANY Homoud LAOS VONGSA Somchay LATVIA KORBUTS Arturs HAJJ-NICOLAS Selim LEBANON NOUR EDDINE Wael LIBERIA AWOBAJO Wasiu ELSOURI Khaled LIBYA HARIZ Jalal LIECHTENSTEIN NEUBAUER Herbert LITHUANIA BALAISA Rimgaudas HARTMANN André LUXEMBOURG SCHILTZ Paul MACAO O I Chau MALAYSIA CHEE Shin Lian MALDIVES LATHEEF Ahmed BAJADA Leslie MALTA GENOVESE Mario + Proxy for Congo MAURITIUS DESSCANN Ganeshan Veerasamy Democratic MEXICO MIRAMONTES Monica MOLDOVA SMIRNOVA Natalia MONACO MICHELIS Christian MONGOLIA CHIMEDDORJ Amarsanaa MONTENEGRO KALUDJEROVIC Branislav MOROCCO BOUZOUBAA Mehdi FLEIDL Heiko NAMIBIA SAUNDERSON Rudi SINGH Kuber Prakash NEPAL DULAL Rajendra Bahadur SIALINO Achim +Proxy for Bonaire NETHERLANDS HELLER Igor NEW CALEDONIA HUGOT Claude +Proxy for Tahiti NEW ZEALAND KYLE Paul OSHODI Wahid Enitan NIGERIA EZEALAH-OGUNDARE Joyce Chinedu NORWAY ERIKSEN Øivind PALESTINE ALSHARIF Radwan

12 PALAU WENTY Burton PARAGUAY REAL Benjamin PERU GOMEZ Antonio PHILIPPINES LEDESMA Ting POLAND WALDOWSKI Wojciech PORTUGAL MOURA Pedro PUERTO RICO CASTALDO Leticia SALEH Mohammed Abdulla QATAR AL-MUFTAH Ali Sultan (also BoD) ROMANIA ROMANESCU Beatrice GRIGORIV Vladimir RUSSIA LEVITIN Igor (also PAC) RWANDA SEMIGABO Eugene SAN MARINO STEFANELLI Claudio SAUDI ARABIA ALSALEEM Bandar Mohammed MCLERNON Terry SCOTLAND MCCALLUM Philip KALINIC Zoran SERBIA SBUTEGA Branko SEYCHELLES REMIE Francis SINGAPORE WONG Hui Leng HAMRAN Anton SLOVAKIA KRIZ Zdenko (also BoD) SLOVENIA SARLAH Danijel CARRIM Yusuf SOUTH AFRICA KAJEE Hajera (also BoD) SPAIN LINEROS Federico SRI LANKA MOHAMED MOHIDEEN Laffeer SURINAME HOOGHART Desire SWEDEN PETERSSON Mikael SILBERSCHMIDT Georg SWITZERLAND STANCU Jean-Pascal Lon SYRIA KALLAS Mamoun TANZANIA MAGANJILA Felix D SEMANGERN Niwat THAILAND RUENGVES Nattavuth TOGO LAWSON GAIZER Boe TUNISIA GUERFEL Lotfi CIMEN Oktay TURKEY CAKIR Veli Ozan TURKMENISTAN ALLANAZAROV Agamyrat ALBAHAR Ahmad UAE ALHAJRI Dawoud URUGUAY DOGLIOTTI Ricardo BABUIN Mike USA LEE Kagin UZBEKISTAN KHUDAYKULOV Nazirjon SEIJAS Francisco VENEZUELA BORGES Oswaldo (also BoD) VIETNAM PHAM DUC Thanh WALES O'CONNELL Neil ALSUNAINI Essam YEMEN ZABARAH Motahar

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