Neil Harwood OAM Inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame

Neil Harwood OAM inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame

Table Tennis Australia (TTA) is pleased to announce that former TTA President Neil Harwood OAM has been inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame.

The TTA Hall of Fame recognises outstanding contributions made to table tennis in the fields of playing, coaching, officiating and/or administering the sport. An individual may only be inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame by meeting certain criteria and being endorsed by the TTA Hall of Fame Selection Panel and the TTA Board.

As one of Australia’s longest serving and highest achieving sport administrators, Harwood’s long list of accolades extend beyond his tenure as President.

Harwood began his table tennis administration career at national level in 1976 as Chairman of the National Coaching Committee and quickly made an impact on Table Tennis Australia. Over the following 20 years, Harwood held multiple significant roles including Chairman of National Selectors, Coach and Manager of the National Junior Boys Team, as well as the National Team Manager for three Olympic Games, seven World Championships, four Commonwealth Championships, three Asian Championships and five Oceania Championships.

With so much experience behind him, Harwood became a TTA Board Member and Director in 1984, before rising up to President from 1996 – 1999, before stepping back into his position as Board Member from 2001 – 2004.

A TTA Life Member, Harwood also made his mark on the sport internationally. He was the Competition Manager for the sport at the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, before becoming President of International Table Tennis Federation – Oceania. He then rose through the ranks of the ITTF, holding roles of Continental Vice President on the Executive Board, Chairman of Umpires and Referees Committee, Executive Vice President, Finance and then finally Deputy President.  

Harwood also served as a Board Member of Commonwealth Games Australia, and in 2007, was bestowed with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). His full list of achievements has been listed below. 

Congratulating Harwood on his latest achievement, TTA Chief Executive Officer Scott Houston said the induction was due recognition for his work as a leader of the sport both in Australia and internationally. 

“Neil is arguably Table Tennis Australia’s greatest ever administrator, enjoying a decorated career over more than 50 years,” Houston said. 

“Neil’s impact was so great, he was able to bring an Australian voice to the sport at an international level. Coming from a country so small in relation to the rest of the table tennis population, that’s something that truly remarkable.”

“On behalf of TTA, I’d like to congratulate Neil for not only this achievement, but also for everything he has contributed to making our sport what it is today.”

Harwood said he was honoured to be inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame as it gave him an opportunity to reflect on a career built on real passion. 

“It’s an honour to receive this award. One doesn’t go into sport administration looking for awards, you go in to help,” he said.

“It started when I was very young, I joined the Committee of the Southern Tasmanian Table Tennis Association after I was ruled out of a competition. I was told if I wanted to change the rules, come onto the Committee and that’s what I did in the very early years. This started me on the journey. 

“The highlight for me was the Olympic movement and the Olympic Games. I managed three Olympic Teams and at the Sydney Olympics, and was technically responsible for Athens, London and started the process for Rio. 

“To do this, meant I had to spend much time away from home, so for that I have to thank my wife and family who have supported me all the way through. I thank everybody, all the committees I’ve worked on, it’s been great.”

Harwood’s full list of achievements in Table Tennis:

INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION:
-    TTA Delegate to ITTF (1985 – 1995)
-    Continental Vice-President on Executive Board (1996 – 2005)
-    Chairman of Umpires and Referees Committee (2001 – 2003)
-    Executive Vice-President, Finance (2005 – April 2012)
-    Deputy President (April 2012 – 2013)
-    Responsibility for Finance, Umpires & Referees, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and Para Table Tennis (2005 – 2013)
-    Awarded Life Membership and appointed to the President’s Advisory Committee (2014)

ITTF-OCEANIA:
-    TTA Delegate to ITTF-Oceania (1983 – 1995)
-    President (1996 – 2005)
-    Awarded Personal Honorary Membership (2007)

OLYMPIC GAMES, PARALYMPIC GAMES AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES:
-    Competition Manager, Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games (paid role) (1997 – 2000)
-    International Technical Delegate for the 2004 Olympic Games (2001 – 2004)
-    Advisor to BOCOG regarding competition management (2004)
-    International Technical Delegate for Melbourne Commonwealth Games (2004 – 2006)
-    Chairman of the Jury for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (2010)

TABLE TENNIS AUSTRALIA:
-    Accredited as Level 2 Coach (1976)
-    Chairman of National Coaching Committee (1976 – 1978)
-    Chairman of National Selectors (1979 – 1983)
-    Coach/Manager of National Junior Boys Team (1981)
-    National Team Manager (including some roles as non-playing captain) (1983 – 1996)
i)    3 x Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996)
ii)    7 x World Championships
iii)    4 x Commonwealth Championships
iv)    3 x Asian Championships
v)    5 x Oceania Championships
vi)    Multiple other miscellaneous Development events.
-    Awarded TTA Life Membership (1994)
-    Board Member and Director, Table Tennis Australia (1984 – 1995)
-    President, Table Tennis Australia (1996 – 1999)
-    Director, Table Tennis Australia (2001 – 2004)

COMMONWEALTH TABLE TENNIS FEDERATION:
-    TTA Delegate to CTTF (1983 – 1999)
-    Deputy Chairman (1999 – 2014)
-    Awarded Life Membership (2015)

COMMONWEALTH GAMES AUSTRALIA:
-    Board Member (2001 – 2004)
-    Member of Investigating Committee at Manchester Commonwealth Games (2002)
  
OTHER AWARDS:
-    Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (2007)
-    Life Member of Table Tennis Tasmania
-    Life Member of Southern Tasmania Table Tennis Association
-    Service to Sport Award, Sportsmen’s Association of Australia (1988)
-    Award of Merit, International Table Tennis Federation (1995)
-    Citizen of the Year Award, Glenorchy City Council (1997)
-    Australian Sports Medal (2000)