(ATR) Thomas Weikert, the current deputy president of the International Table Tennis Federation, is now set to becomethe federation's seventh president.
Current president Adham Sharara will move into a new role as chairman of the ITTF. Sharara assumed the presidency in 1999.
As chairman of the ITTF, Sharara will preside overthe federation's annual general meeting each year as well as specific projects assigned by the ITTF executive board.
"I am very happy that the ITTF will now step into a new phase of its development," Sharara said in an ITTF statement released on Tuesday. "I hand over the ITTF reigns to Thomas Weikert today and provide him my full support.
"Thomas has the necessary energy and motivation to take the ITTF to the next level, and we will all support his efforts as an ITTF family."
In the same statement, Weikert thanked Sharara for his years of service to the ITTF.
"During his 15 years as ITTF president," Weikert said, "he has taken the sport forward in leaps and bounds, and everyone involved in table tennis will forever be in his debt."
Weikert also shared his vision for the future of table tennis.
"During my time as ITTF president, I would like to continue the growth of the sport and fulfill the ITTF's goal of becoming a top 5 sport," Weikert said."Although I am German, I am no German president, but a president for everyone.
"Development of smaller associations is a matter that is near to my heart."
Weikert said he plans to expand a development program for table tennis and hopes athletes from "as many countries as possible" will take up the sport.
"Table Tennis should not only serve as a form for physical and mental training, but also be a unifying element," he concluded.
FEI Presidential Race
Six candidates, who submitted applications on Monday, will vie to become president of the International Equestrian Federation.
The group includes current FEI secretary general and CEO Ingmar De Vos; French gold medalist Pierre Durand;Pierre Genecand, a Swiss businessman who signaled his intention to run for FEI president in April;Ulf Helgstrand, president of the Danish Equestrian Federation;John McEwen from Great Britain, an FEI senior vice-president, and 1996 OlympianJavier Revuelta del Peral of Spain.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the FEI provided biographical information on each candidate.
De Vos became FEI secretary general in 2011. Hejoined the Belgian Equestrian Federation as managing director in 1990 and served as the federation's chef de mission at all World Equestrian Games from 1990 to 2010.
Durand competed at both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He served as president of the French Equestrian Federation from 1993 to 1998.
Genecand is currently the president of both the Polo Club Gstaad and the Hublot Polo Gold Club. From 1989 to 2003, he served as president of the Geneva International Horse Shoe.
Helgstrand was first elected president of the Danish Equestrian Federation in 2003. He is currently serving as vice president of the European Equestrian Federation.
McEwen became a senior vice president for the FEI in 2010. From 1999 to 2003, McEwen served asvice chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee before becoming committee’s chair in 2006.
Revuelta del Peral competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 2005, he became chairman of the Spanish Equestrian Federation.
The FEI will elect a new president on Dec. 14 in Baku, Azerbaijan during its general assembly.
Current FEI president Princess Haya confirmed in August that she would not seek a third term.Haya was first elected FEI president in 2006.
Written byNicole Bennett
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