President's Report

By Sheri Pittman

On September 11, the savage acts of terrorism left an indelible impression upon our American landscape and psyche. I received sentiments from our table tennis friends throughout the world. I want to share them with you as we recover and rebuild the fabric of the American way of life.

My God, I don’t believe this is happening in the States, thank Goodness you are safe and OK. May God bless you all. This is a disastrous thing, the worst nightmare. We were shocked and astonished. My deepest sympathy to all the American people. Please if there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to let me know. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

I am so sorry about the horrific situation in your country. I hope everything is OK with you, your family and the Table Tennis Family. May I help? Best regards.

Miguel Angel Delgado, Guatemala, ITTF Continental Vice President – Latin America 9/12

My thoughts are with you and all Americans, especially those who have been touched so directly through the loss of loved ones.  Such horrific scenes have been broadcast from New York and Washington and some of the details of the phone calls from the aircraft are truly heart rendering.  Last night I walked just a few minutes from my house to view our local airport.  At that time there were at least 22 international flights that had been diverted here and more followed.  That image really confirmed the realness of the situation which, through TV coverage, seemed somehow unreal and almost movie-like.  Today, just 100 yards from my building at the University, there were over 500 travelers in temporary accommodations in a gymnasium. We assume that at least by late tomorrow many of them will finally reach the US.  This will have a dramatic affect on all of us for a long time to come.
Bruce Burton, President of Canadian TTA  9/12

I do not know how and with what kinds of words I should use to express my sincere condolence to you and to the people of America.  What a horrible and inhuman terror it is!!!!!!!   I hope the USA can find those who are responsible as quickly as they can.  It is a very sad and incredible incident.  I feel relief to know that all of the USATT family are safe, as well as your family.  I am sure all the peace loving peoples all over the world are with you and wish you a very fast recovery so that you can get back to the normal life. May the Lord’s blessings be with you all.
Han Sang Kook, Korea, ITTF Exec. Committee Member  9/13

During this terrible moment, I just would like to tell you that all French people are currently thinking about all the victims and their families. Today, we are ALL Americans!  French TV channels are running live 24 hours a day to cover this act of war against the American people.  I’m more than pleased to know that you, your family, and our table tennis friends are safe.

The whole table tennis world is with you and USATT members during this tragic moment. It is good to learn that so far table tennis people do not seem to be victims of the horrible terrorist attacks. Let us hope that this will not be changed. Although nothing will be as it was before, I am convinced that we should try to return to our sports life as soon as possible, not to assist the terrorists’ intention to destroy our western society. Sheri, I wish you, your association, your players, coaches, officials, umpires and friends all the best. Be assured again, we are with you.

We are all tremendously shocked. I’d like to express my sincere solidarity to suffering American people. I sincerely greet my many American table tennis friends all over the US, and to you as the president of the Association. The civilized world is with you!

We follow the media coverage of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon, killing an incredibly high number of innocent people. We also want to let you know that the German Table Tennis Family is wholeheartedly behind all those who lost relatives and friends. Furthermore, we would like to express our solidarity and sympathy for the American people. We deeply condemn the attacks against the United States and the civilized world, and we hope that everybody involved in the planning and execution of the attack will be identified in the very near future and brought to justice. Our thoughts are with you in these darkest days of the beginning of the 21st century.

Our thoughts are with you. It’s very difficult to comprehend what has happened.

We are very shocked to know the terrible news about what occurred in New York and at the Pentagon. We cannot believe it. We watch the news on TV and we hope that peace will come very soon. We are hoping that everything is going very well for you.

I’d like to offer my condolences to you on the US National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Please accept my deep-felt sympathy in your great bereavement. I have no relatives in your country and I know only a few people there but I cannot stop watching CNN and thinking of your nation after this horrible terrorist attack. In Hungary, life stopped for three minutes this noon and we were all lost deep in thought. We were all with the victims in spirit. The whole world will never again be the same. Nobody is safe any more, but we have to continue our free and democratic life and we should hope not to have such terrible tragedies in the future. The thoughts and prayers of the Europeans go out to the Americans in these hard days - it is sure.

I was shocked by the terrorist catastrophes in New York and Washington on the black Tuesday. I hope that might be the end of the sad news all over the world. My heartfelt condolences go to you and the American people for the dramatic incident. I wish to hear from you soon that everything is going in the right direction and that you and the table tennis family in USA are completely safe.

Please accept my sincere condolence to the Americans and if there is anything I can do to be of help, please let me know. I am willing to do whatever I can.

Please consider myself, the Italian and the European table tennis friends close to you, to the USATT association and to all the American people in this horrible and criminal tragedy. As a sportsman I’ve no more words.... All the best for the future.

Since the 11th of September I wanted to send you a message of sympathy for this big tragedy. As we continue with our lives, we will never forget those who have lost ones in this tragedy and especially the heroes who are trying to save them. God bless you, and bless your great country, America.

On behalf of the Hungarian Table Tennis Association, I would like to express the deepest sympathy for the victims of the terrible attack in the USA. We do really hope that all the people of the US table tennis family are OK and survive these difficult days safely. Best wishes to all of you from Hungary.

I would like to express my heartfelt condolence and deep sympathies of sadness to you and your esteemed family on the sad tragedy of the terrorist attack in New York. I pray to Almighty God to bestow eternal peace upon their souls and to grant you patience and forbearance.

We were shocked by this inhuman act at the WTC on September 11th, 2001 which shook the whole world. We strongly condemn these terrorist activities. India has also been facing this problem for the last few years and we can understand the feelings of US people. On behalf of the Indian Federation, I convey our deep condolence on the loss of thousands of lives. We are relieved to note that there were no casualties or injuries to USATT family members. We pray to the Almighty for the safety of all the athletes of USA.

I extend sincere gratitude to our many friends throughout the world who expressed condemnation of the terrorist acts, condolences, solidarity and hope for the future. May we all work together in unison.

Xu Yinsheng, president of the Chinese TTA, recently expressed his ongoing desire to help us move forward. He wrote, in part, "I shall be very pleased to work with you to promote the technical standard of American players as well as our traditional friendship…."

ITTF President Adham Sharara and I also communicate regularly. He asked me to reiterate what he had stated previously, "The ITTF is willing to invest [in the USA]; but the desire to succeed, the passion to perform and the commitment to engage belongs to USATT." We have been discussing holding the 2002 Pro Tour Final in conjunction with our U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas. I look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand the bonds within our table tennis community, especially during a time like this.