AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION OF WALES LTD, I was delighted to be approached last summer by the Sports Council for Wales to consider whether table tennis could be included in the Modern Sport programme. I realised that this would be a unique opportunity to restructure and develop our sport to ensure its success in the future. Since the TTAW agreed to be a part of the programme, a huge amount of hard work has been undertaken by all those involved and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken part.
I know that the directors and officers are committed to ensuring the success of this strategy and I am sure that the entire membership of the TTAW will wholeheartedly support and assist with the efforts being made. I look forward to working with every one of you in making our sport a success.
Phil Avery
Chairman (Table Tennis Association of Wales Ltd.)
ON BEHALF OF THE SPORTS COUNCIL FOR WALES, I would like to congratulate the Table Tennis Association of Wales Ltd on their approach to modernisation of their governing body. Since being involved in the SCW initiative - Modern Sport programme - the Association has made huge progress to ensure that in the long term table tennis continues to develop at both grass roots and elite levels.
Having been part of the governing body’s modernisation process, I am astounded by the commitment, enthusiasm and determination displayed by all those involved in developing the vision for the sport. With a new, strong Board of Directors, the Association is now an ideal position to oversee the implementation of the proposed strategy. The Sports Council looks forward to receiving the strategy for consideration at the forthcoming Panel meeting.
Eli Karlicka-Cook
NGBS Liaison Officer for Table Tennis
The government has invested considerable resources into the modernisation of governing bodies of sport to develop their effectiveness, so that they can progress to compete as efficient businesses within the world of sport. Table tennis was selected as one of the first sports to be included in this Modern Sport programme.
The agreement to be included in Modern Sport was made between the Sports Council for Wales and the TTAW Ltd. last summer; the first step was to involve external sports management consultants. These consultants distributed questionnaires to the directors, officers and other members of the TTAW and the resulting information was used as the basis for a ‘Springboard’ weekend of workshops with the directors and officers in Cardiff last October. An intensive weekend was spent dissecting and analysing all aspects of the TTAW and five areas were highlighted as the priorities for development and modernisation.
The TTAW directors and officers formed sub-groups to consider each of these five areas and to produce draft strategies for development before reporting back at a day long workshop in February. The strategies were further discussed and amended, and form the basis of the draft strategy included in this newsletter. Those involved in the development of these areas of work are: