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What does all this mean
What is the difference

ITTF Governance Structure (Detailed)

1. Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Was AGM then became BGM then AGM again)

• Supreme authority of ITTF.
• All 227 member associations are represented.
• Responsibilities:
Elects the President and approves statutes.
Can amend the Rules (Laws of Table Tennis) — fundamental laws of play (e.g., scoring system, service rules, racket coverings).
Approves major constitutional changes.

• Rule change examples (Requires 75% of vote)
1. BGM 1977 banned all long pips to start the process of extermination of choppers from the sport.
2. BGM 1983 &1985 continued the process of extermination of choppers with the 2 color rule

2. Executive Council (Council)
• Legislative authority between AGMs.

• Composition:
President
Executive Board ( 8 Vice Presidents )
Continental representatives (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania)
Chairs of standing committees
Athletes’ Commission representative
• Responsibilities:
Can amend Regulations (competition formats, eligibility, event management, rankings).
Oversees committees and commissions.
Ratifies appointments and approves policy directions.

• Regulation change examples: (most requite only 51% majority vote)
1 1998 Reduced the maximum allowed Aspect Ratio of pips from 1.3 to 1.1 by calling a special EGM in Durban to continue the process of extermination of choppers from the sport
2 2004 Reduced the maximum allowed pip density from 50 to 30 pips per sq.cm to continue the process of chopper extermination

3. Executive Board

• Smaller leadership group.
• Composition: President + Executive Vice Presidents.
• Responsibilities:
o Handles daily management and urgent decisions.
o Long term strategies
o Implements decisions of AGM and Council.
o Reports back to Council and AGM.

4. Committees & Commissions

Specialized expert groups that draft proposals and advise the Board and Council.
• Athletes’ Commission – elected by players; sends rep to Council.
• Umpires and Referees Committee – education, certification, appointments, officiating standards.
• Sport Science & Medical Committee – injury prevention, medical guidelines, anti doping.
• Technical Committee – rules, playing regulations, competition procedures.
• Equipment Committee – approves rackets, balls, tables, flooring; oversees testing/homologation.
• Finance & Audit Committee – budgets, audits, compliance.
• Para Table Tennis Committee – classification systems, eligibility, para competition standards.
• Sustainability Committee – environmental/social responsibility, event standards.
• Development & Education (High Performance & Development) – grassroots, coaching pathways, national association support.
• Events & Competition Committee – formats, calendars, hosting standards, bidding.
• Integrity Board – ethics, safeguarding, compliance; independent oversight.
• ITTF Tribunal – independent judicial body for disputes and disciplinary cases.
• Veterans/Masters Committee – veteran competitions and community development.
• Marketing & Media/Communications Committee – branding, broadcast, commercial strategy.
• Nominations/Governance Committee – vetting candidates, governance practices, statute oversight.

Decision Flow
• AGM → Rules (fundamental laws of play).
• Council → Regulations (competition and administrative procedures).
• Executive Board → Executes daily operation. and long term strategy
• Committees → Draft proposals and provide expertise.
• Integrity Board & Tribunal → Independent judicial/ethics oversight.

Yanniss wrote: ↑November 19th, 2025, 2:59 am 1. BGM 1977 banned all long pips to start the process of extermination of choppers from the sport.

This is incorrect.
ITTF LARC shows a list of long pips

I was also quite naive & clueless only till last year.
Someone opened my eyes the truth and corrected me.
I cannot believe myself how stupid I was to fall for ITTF brainwashing

ITTF did indeed ban all long pips in 1977.
They just continued to call the pips as long pips to fool the choppers.

Ther are no long pips or short pips in ITTF table tennis .
What ITTF calls short pips (or out in their LARC) is actually wide (or stiff) pips
What ITTF deceptively calls long pips in their LARC is actually slim (or flex) pips

You can read detailed explanation iat the webpage below
https://tacticaltabletennis.blogspot.com/p/ar.html

Please also read the forum topic below
(click link >) slim or flex pips