CEO’s Message: 2022 Review

2022 will go down as arguably one of TTA’s greatest ever years, especially in relation to high performance and international results.

As the year comes to a close, it’s important to look back and reflect on some of the achievements throughout the year. Highlights from 2022 include, but are not limited to: 

HIGH PERFORMANCE AND PATHWAYS:

• Our best ever Commonwealth Games results were achieved, winning 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, plus 2 x 4th place results.
• Our best ever World Para Championships results were achieved, winning 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals, plus 1 x 4th place result.
• Out best ever World Youth Championships results were achieved, winning 1 silver and 1 bronze medals, plus 2 quarter final results. This was the first time we have ever won medals at the World Youth Championships in the 20-year history of the event.
• Our best ever ITTF-Oceania Championships results were achieved, winning 28 out of 28 gold medals on offer and 67 medal in total. This is the best ever results by any country in the 44-year history of the event.
• Australian athletes competed in a record 33 international events throughout the year, winning a record 125 medals.
• 5 Australian athletes finished the year in the top 100 world rankings (senior), including Yangzi Liu (WR31 in Women’s) and Nicholas Lum (WR42 in Men’s) achieving the best ever world rankings by Australian athletes. 
• 5 Australian athletes finished the year in the top 10 world rankings (para), including Qian Yang finishing 2022 ranked as number 1 in the world (Class 10 Women’s).
• During the year, Nicholas Lum was the first ever Australian to reach number 1 in the world rankings in able-bodied (Under 17 Boys’).
• National Squad training continued to go from strength to strength, with record training hours continuing to be offered in Melbourne and Sydney.
• Hopes Programs and Talent ID initiatives were held in 7 States/Territories, attracting more than 230 participants and served as an important vehicle in providing opportunities for all parts of the high performance pathway.
• The Para Pathways Program was rolled out across 12 centres in 7 States/Territories, delivering 150 new participants; plus the first ever National Para Pathway Camp was conducted with 9 new Para Pathway athletes.
• 14 new para athletes were classified ahead of the 2022 National Championships and the new provisional classification process was also successfully rolled out across all States/Territories.
• Player of the Year awards went to: Yangzi Liu (Senior – Victor Barna Memorial Trophy), Qian Yang (Para – Arthur Wilks Award), Nicholas Lum (Junior – Michael Szabados Award), and Craig Campbell (Veterans – Ken Cole Trophy).

PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT:

• The TTA Equipment and Facilities Grant Program was successfully rolled out for a fifth consecutive year. 15 clubs/associations from 7 States/Territories received grants, which resulted in more than $95,000 worth of equipment and facilities being injected into the table tennis community. Cumulatively across the five years of the program to date, more than $440,000 worth of equipment and facilities have been distributed to 69 clubs/associations across all 8 States/Territories.
• 12 outstanding contributors to the sport were honoured through the National Volunteer and Coaches Awards Program. Mick Coughlan (QLD) had the honour of being awarded the Bev and Brian James Trophy as the 2022 National Volunteer of the Year.
• Membership remained stable, with approximately 10,000 members being expected when the 2022 Census is finalised.
• Participation remained stable, with approximately 150,000 participants being expected when the 2022 Census is finalised.
• Our entry level program, Spinneroos, continued to be rolled out at both club and school level throughout Australia.
• Our Sporting Schools program continued to be rolled out across Australia, with more than 22,000 students undertaking the program.

NATIONAL EVENTS:

• 2022 saw the return to a full calendar of national events for the first time since 2019, with 8 highly successful national events delivered across 6 States/Territories.
• The National Senior, Youth, Junior and Para Championships were combined into one all inclusive event for the first time. The event attracted 445 competitors and nearly 1,900 individual event entries from all States/Territories.
• The National Veterans Championships attracted 310 competitors and nearly 1,200 individual event entries from all States/Territories and New Zealand.
• After a pilot event in 2021, the TTA Tour was expanded to cover 4 events in 2022 (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane). Overall, the event series was a roaring success, attracting nearly 600 competitors and more than 1,100 individual event entries from 7 States/Territories plus New Zealand.
• The National Hopes Week & Challenge attracted a record 76 entries from 7 States/Territories and continues to set the benchmark in terms of sourcing the next generation of players.
• The Commonwealth Games Qualification Tournament served to determine the final men’s and women’s places on the 2022 Commonwealth Games team and provided high calibre table tennis throughout. 
• 7 national events were livestreamed with outstanding statistics being generated. 91,000 unique viewers and 118,000 total views watched 318,000 minutes (5,300 hours) of footage in more than 30 countries. Social media posts (Facebook) reached 482,000 people across more than 206 posts. Finally, 560,000 website hits were achieved.

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE:

• The 2019-2022 TTA Strategic Plan came to an end, with significant and sustainable progress being made across all elements of the plan. TTA will be releasing a summary of all achievements before the end of 2022.
• The 2023-2025 TTA Strategic Plan was finalised and is now ready to be rolled out over the next three years. TTA is working with all States/Territories to ensure that State/Territory Strategic Plans align with TTA’s, but maintain a localised focus where beneficial. This will ensure that a unified strategic direction will be in place across the sport for the next 3 years, which will underpin collaboration across the sport.
• 2021-2022 MOUs that TTA entered into with TTACT, TTNSW, TTNT, TTT and TTWA concluded. TTA is hopeful to enter into MOUs with all States/Territories for the 2023-2025 period to further strengthen collaboration between TTA and States/Territories.
• A fifth consecutive surplus will be delivered and the TTA Cash Reserves Target of $575,000 will be met by the end of 2022 (subject to Audit). The 2022 financial result underlines the financial reforms implemented in recent years and demonstrates that TTA’s business model continues to be robust.
• Importantly, with the TTA Cash Reserves target being met, it is anticipated that the need to generate surplus results will diminish, meaning more resources can be put into further developing the sport.

RECOGNITION INITIATIVES:

• Five players made their international debut (Able-Bodied) and were recognised as Official Australian Representatives. Congratulations to Min Hyung Jee, Yangzi Liu, Nicholas Lum, Finn Luu and Alex Lee. The Official Australian Representative tallies now sit at 78 (Able-Bodied Men), 70 (Able-Bodied Women), 73 (Para Men) and 31 (Para Women).
• Two icons of Australian table tennis were inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame: Russell Lavale (Athletes – Open) and Noel Shorter (Coaches). Congratulations Russell and Noel, you’re most worthy inductees.

Delivering results of this nature requires the help and support of a broad network of people and organisations and it is important to thank those who have contributed along the way.

Sincere thanks go to all funding partners and peak bodies, namely the Australian Sports Commission and the AIS, Commonwealth Games Australia, Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, ITTF and ITTF-Oceania. TTA enjoys a positive working relationship with all parties and looks forward to this continuing in 2023 and beyond.

Thank you also to all TTA’s commercial partners. In particular our long-term partners Nittaku and DHS, plus Table Tennis World through the backing of Paul Pinkewich, plus all others who supported TTA throughout the year. 

Thank you also to State/Territory Associations for working collaboratively for the betterment of the sport once again in 2022. The work that all parties have put into strengthening relationships between National and State/Territory level in recent years has undoubtedly been beneficial for the health of the sport overall. It is clear the underlying theme is a willingness to help each other maximise the finite resources available across Australian table tennis and the increased sense of unity is appreciated by TTA.

The work at club/association and State/Territory level, by volunteers and staff, to grow participation and deliver local competitions and activities is the bedrock of the sport – thank you, we couldn’t progress without you.
High praise is deserved by all TTA staff, who once again performed with distinction. TTA are fortunate to have staff who are both extremely dedicated and exceptionally capable. They always focus on the job at hand to service stakeholders and maximise finite resources. The passion, work ethic and commitment of the TTA staff is both acknowledged and appreciated.

Special mention goes to everyone who serves on TTA Board Sub-Committees. It is not lost on TTA that you all volunteer your time to help the sport you love and, in some instances, this can be a thankless task. However, I express my sincere thanks for your ongoing contribution.

Finally, the TTA Board must be recognised. Advancing Australian table tennis remained firmly at the forefront of all decision making and the Board continued to function effectively and efficiently in a cohesive manner. The Board-CEO relationship is pivotal to the success of any organisation and the mutual trust and the ongoing strong working relationship is an essential element of TTA’s strength. 

Thank you once again to everyone for your contribution to our great game throughout 2022. Here’s to another successful year in 2023.

Scott Houston
Chief Executive Officer
Table Tennis Australia Ltd.