Highlights of the 5th ITF General Assembly

As before every ITF World Championship or World Cup, as in this case in Mar del Plata, Argentina, the 5th ITF General Assembly was held on Sunday 27 October 2024.

Following the welcoming remarks by President GM Paul Weiler, the verification of the attendees, the declaration that the General Assembly was convened in accordance with the Statutes, including the verification and confirmation of the quorum, confirmed that 38 countries were represented (including proxi votes), which meant a total of 87 votes.

Inviting all attendees to read the detailed president’s message in the Congress Book, GM Weiler took the opportunity to thank and congratulate those responsible in the ITF headquarter for the preparation of this Congress. In addition, he thanked the members of the Development and Communications Committee for the preparing and publishing of the Institutional Book and the new Yearbook 2024.

The Congress proceeded in great harmony. The vast majority of the items on the agenda were approved unanimously, such as the proposals for amendments and modifications to the Statutes and the Regulations of the General Assembly and the admission of new Ordinary Members.

The report of the Secretary General, GM Tadeusz Loboda, dealt with the activities of the Board, meetings, and information on the different international courses held during the year.

He also presented reports on participation in the SportAccord Conference 2024 held in Birmingham, England and in the Tafisa World Congress 2023 held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Finally, he referred to the calendar of events scheduled for 2025.

Later, it was the turn of the ITF Treasurer, Master Leonardo Oros Duek, who, when presenting the financial report, highlighted that this is the fifth consecutive year in which the financial year has closed with a surplus. Another important point was the approval of the hiring of an external Auditor.

Information was then provided about the 2027 World Championships, and bidding for the 2026 and 2028 World Cups were announced. The highlight in this regard was the selection of Paraguay as the host country of the 2027 World Championships. The report of the Chair of the Tournament Committee visiting the facilities was attesting excellent preparation and the clear government support, as well as the National Olympic Committee.

For his part, Mr. Philip Lear, member of the Board of Directors, reported on two events to be held in England in 2025, Events 2025 in England, an IUC, from March 28 and 30 in Newcastle upon Tyne, and an in-person IDC in the London area, to be held from July 18 and 20.

Finally, this fifth Ordinary Congress culminated in its most important objective: the complementary election of a Member-at-Large for the ITF Board of Directors. The ITF Election Committee, consisting of GM Coos van den Heuvel (Chair) and GM Ray Nicolaisen (Member), concluded that the candidate, Master Niklas Enander from Sweden, met and passed the requirements set out in the ITF Electoral Code and was unanimously elected after the vote. Master Niklas Enander will complement the Board and set his own course, and continue working tirelessly for further developing ITF National Associations all over the world, especially in Africa.