WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT
40mm Ball Passes
By Sheri Pittman and Tong Lee

40mm Balls to Replace 38mm Balls Effective October 1, 2000
Kuala Lumpur: On Wednesday at the General Meeting of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the body voted to require the use of bigger balls (going from 38mm to 40mm). In order to pass, the proposition required support by 75% of the votes cast. The vote passed by an overwhelming majority, and required no count by the appointed scrutineers. Of the 108 voters, less than a handful opposed the proposition. Our unscientific estimate is that over 90% of the delegates voted in favor of the proposition (since we are unsure of how many delegates abstained). USA, Taiwan, and one or two other countries voted against the move to mandate an enlarged ball. It had been evident since we arrived that there was widespread support for the 40mm ball. Indeed, in sharp contrast to the last General Meeting that had been held in Eindhoven, Netherlands last August, there was no opposition by committee chairs or influential ITTF members. In Eindhoven, a strong majority voted in favor of the bigger balls, but the vote was just short of the 75% supermajority required by the ITTF.

Just prior to this year’s vote, USATT President Pittman made a point of order. She requested that balloting cards that were sitting on the tables behind a country’s name be removed from the tables if that country’s delegate was absent. She stated that this measure would prevent intentional or unintentional double voting. At the last General Meeting cards were distributed to the delegates; at this year’s meeting, balloting cards were placed on the tables behind placards stating each association’s country. ITTF President Adham Sharara ruled that the point of order was well taken. An ITTF representative then removed cards that were unaccompanied by delegates.

Prior to the initial vote, ITTF President Adham Sharara had suggested to the body that the vote be split into three parts: 1) a vote on whether to move from a 38mm ball to a 40mm ball, 2) to become effective at what effective date (if the bigger ball was the will of the body), and 3) whether the 38mm ball could be used in parallel.

So, after the body passed the 40mm ball proposition, the body next considered the effective date for the balls to be used in ITTF events. The two dates under consideration were October 1, 2000 (immediately after the Sydney Olympic Games) and September 1, 2001. Arguments were made in favor of each date. On the one hand, a delay of almost a year and a half would allow companies to reduce their ball stocks and would allow companies needing additional time to retool the opportunity to have some additional lead time. The later date would also mean that the sport’s elite players would not have to change ball sizes in the middle of the season. The primary argument for the earlier date was that such a monumental decision merited an effective date as soon as possible. A majority of voters supported the October 1 effective date, then a similar majority of voters voted not to allow any overlap time for the use of both ball sizes. President Adham Sharara then announced that the 40mm ball would be used at the next World Championships, scheduled to take place in Osaka, Japan in the spring of 2001.

The inaugural World Cup in Beijing three weeks after the Olympics, however, will be the first international level tournament to use the new balls. ITTF Equipment Chair Rufford Harrison (from the USA) stated that he hoped that some countries would chose to offer events utilizing the 38mm until the stocks of 38mm balls gets depleted. Several members of the USA team expressed a desire to use the new ball size at this year’s US National Championships, to be held in December, since the 40mm would then be the official ITTF ball size.

ITTF President Sharara said that the new balls, with an average range of between 2.67g and 2.77g, would be more visible to television while reducing the speed and spin.

Teams to pay for their withdrawals
Kuala Lumpur: The 20-odd teams who pulled out of the ongoing World Team Championships here will have to pay for the cancellation of their hotel bookings and other facilities.

If they do not, they will not be allowed to take part in the next championships in Osaka, Japan.

For the Osaka Championships, the teams would have to pay for the cost of accommodation and food in advance before their entries are accepted.

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) president Adham Sharara said yesterday that these measures were being taken following the spate of withdrawals in the tournament here.

"The council has decided on a few pre-conditions before we accept entries," said Sharara. He added that teams would also have to submit in letters indicating their government’s consent and their financial capability to take part.

Other News
 The president of Libya TTA, Bakir Fares, extended a verbal invitation (to be followed by an official one) to USATT President Pittman to participate in an inaugural junior (U-15) tournament to be held in September 2000. He said that Libya would provide room and board to the team. He also said that some top European countries have expressed strong interest in the tournament. President Pittman said that the letter of invitation would have to include an assurance of governmental guarantee for the security of the players; she indicated that it was unlikely that the youth players would attend this year’s event.