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.