European Table Tennis Union Explained

Assocname:European Table Tennis Union
Abbrev:ETTU
Logosize:250px
Aff:ITTF
Headquarters:Luxembourg City
President:Igor Levitin (self-suspended temporarily in March 2022 due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine)[1] [2]
Url:ettu.org

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognised for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organisation of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.[3]

History

Following their decision to make the World Table Tennis Championships a biennial event from 1957 onwards, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) invited the separate European table tennis associations to consider holding a European Championships in the intervening, even-numbered years. At a meeting on 13 March 1957 in Stockholm during that year's World Championships, the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) was created by the associations of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Finland, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the USSR, Wales, West Germany and Yugoslavia. A board of seven was elected, including Frenchman Jean Belot as the first chairman, and the first European Championships took place in Budapest in 1958.

At a meeting in 1960, the ETTU decided to introduce a competition for European club teams, and the first European Club Cup of Champions for men took place in early 1961, with a women's event added three years later. In 1964, the ETTU assumed responsibility for youth competitions in Europe, and in 1970 the main competition for youth players was renamed the European Youth Championships. An experimental classification tournament was held in 1971, featuring the top twelve-ranked European players in a round robin-style competition. This event would go on to be held annually as the Europe Top-12.

In 1984, Nancy Evans retired from her role as Honorary General Secretary, having held that role for 27 years since the formation of the ETTU. In recognition of her outstanding service, she was appointed as the ETTU's first Honorary Life Member.

Between 1991 and 1995, the number of ETTU member associations increased dramatically from 37 to 52, largely due to applications from table tennis associations of nations that were formerly part of the USSR or Yugoslavia, in addition to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. In 1998, the European Champions League was created for men's club teams (a women's Champions League followed in 2005), and in 1999, the ETTU entered into their first TV contract with ITTF/TMS, which enabled Champions League matches to be broadcast live on Eurosport.[4]

In 2000, a decision was taken to switch the European Championships to odd-numbered years from 2003 onwards. This was in response to the ITTF's decision to start holding World Championships every year, alternating between individual events in odd-numbered years and team events in even-numbered years. From 2007, the European Championships became an annual event, and from 2016, the Championships will feature singles and doubles events in even-numbered years, with team events in odd-numbered years.[5]

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ETTU Executive Board banned Russian and Belarusian players and officials from ETTU events, in accord with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and in March 2022 its Russian president Igor Levitin self-suspended himself.[6]

Member Associations

The 58 member associations of the ETTU as of September 2022, include:[7]

Competitions

The ETTU authorises the following competitions:

Individual

Club

Hall of Fame

In September 2015, the ETTU introduced the European Table Tennis Hall of Fame, with the aim of honouring champions, legendary players and other individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the sport of table tennis in Europe.[8]

Inductees

The following people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame:[9]

2015

2016

2017

2019

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Newly-elected ETTU President Igor Levitin promises innovation as he looks to elevate European table tennis. ETTU. 16 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Russia claims partial victory against table tennis sanctions as clubs reinstated. 5 May 2022. www.insidethegames.biz.
  3. Web site: ETTU Handbook. European Table Tennis Association. 8 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160829041006/http://www.ettu.org/en/about-ettu/handbook/. 29 August 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: ETTU History. European Table Tennis Union. 11 September 2016.
  5. Web site: ETTU Congress approves new regulations for European Championships 2016 and 2017. European Table Tennis Union. 11 September 2016.
  6. Web site: Moura tells ETTU Congress Russian and Belarusian ban "best course to take". 20 August 2022. www.insidethegames.biz.
  7. Web site: Member Associations. European Table Tennis Association. 7 September 2016.
  8. Web site: About: European Table Tennis Hall of Fame. ETTHoF. 8 September 2016.
  9. Web site: European Table Tennis Hall of Fame. ETTHoF. 8 September 2016.

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