The President of the European Athletes’ Commission and International Table Tennis Champion Jean-Michel Saive officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) at a press conference that was held at the Belgian Olympic House on 19 January.
Pierre-Olivier Beckers, COIB President and IOC member and Roland Delhoux, President of the Belgian Royal Table Tennis Federation, gave their full support to Jean-Mi.
Jean-Mi ended his international career in 2015 with an impressive record to his credit. He was 25 times Belgian champion, more than 500 days in first place in the world ranking, and was at once world champion and European champion in 1994. That same year he won the Europe Top 12 and was also named Sportsman of the Year, as well as in 1991. He participated seven times in a row at the Olympic Games, his first Games were those of Seoul in 1988. On two occasions he was flag-bearer for Belgium.
He also has extensive experience in the field of sport as an administrator. Jean-Michel is an ex officio member of the EOC Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the Belgian NOC.
“That my federation and the COIB support my candidacy encourages me and even more motivates me to defend my sport in a new function,” explained Jean-Michel Saive, who presented the 11 main points of his vision: “I want to be innovative and creative in order to attract a younger audience.”
Among others, Jean-Michel Saive wants to strengthen ties with the IOC and the Olympic Movement.
COIB, president Pierre-Olivier Beckers said: “Jean-Michel Saive is in my opinion the ideal candidate. He knows his sport in all its facets. Jean-Michel Saive not only has an impressive sports career to his credit but he has also been very professional as a director of various sports entities. I am extremely proud to present his candidacy for the presidency, and I am also proud to support him in his decision. I wish him good luck! ”
Jean-Michel Saive has as competitors for the post of ITTF President, German Thomas Weikert, who has headed the ITTF since September 2014, and Khalil Al-Mohannadi, chair of the table tennis association of Qatar and vice-president of the ITTF.
The election of the new president of the ITTF will take place on May 31 in Düsseldorf, at the congress called on the occasion of the World Championship.
