(ATR) Thomas Weikert will no longer run unopposed for table tennis’ top job.
He will be competing against his second-in-command and deputy president Khalil Al-Mohannadi to lead the federation for the next four years.
Al-Mohannadi has served as the Qatar Table Tennis Association president for the past 21 years and has been on the ITTF executive committee since 2005.
Weikert was appointed president of the International Table Tennis Federation in September 2014 as the federation’s second-in-command once former president Adham Sharara resigned. He now looks forward to earning the votes of his colleagues.
Each candidate is emphasizing an increase in table tennis participation across the globe and the need to increase marketing opportunities in their campaign platforms.
The deadline for National Associations to submit nominations for presidential candidates is April 30. The election will be held May 31 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
PyeongChang 2018 Consolidates Paralympic Venues
Organizers of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will use the same venue for its Paralympic skiing and snowboarding competitions in a cost-saving effort.
Skiing and snowboarding will be staged at the Jeongseon Alpine Center after an original proposal to hold skiing at Jeongseon and snowboarding at Yongpyong Alpine Center.
"We expect that this consolidation of events will bring about efficient Games preparation and operations at both the test events next year and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, as well as substantial savings," said POCOG secretary general Hyung Koo Yeo.
The consolidation will reduce the number of staff needed from 682 to 332 and overlay construction costs will be reduced with only one venue to focus on.
POCOG and the International Paralympic Committee add that staging the skiing and snowboarding events at the same venue will provide a greater atmosphere for athletes and spectators.
"This is a good move for everyone, especially spectators, allowing people to come and enjoy two of the most exciting Paralympic sports on the program in a single venue," said IPC chief executive officer Xavier Gonzalez.
The Jeongseon venue will be put through the motions during IPC test events in March 2017, with the IPC Snowboard World Cup Finals from March 10-13 and the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup from March 11-18.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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