Chuck Hoey, Curator museum@ittf.com
Issue # 27 February 2012	ITTF Museum Newsletter

From the Curator's Desk All of our Newsletters are also available on the ITTF Museum website:www.ittf.com/museumJust click on the Newsletter icon and select an issue to view. Thanks for looking in!

Hello Friends ... With the closing of the Olympics Museum for two years due to renovations, the ITTF Museum is the largest sport museum in the region - a big responsibility! Much activity to report, including an update on the planned Shanghai branch of the ITTF Museum, an historic donation, and some VIP visitors. We have news that the Shanghai branch of the ITTF Museum will have a prime location on the second floor of the Shanghai Sports Administration building. Our friend Yao Zhenxu (CHN) will lead the project. Always a pleasure to announce donations to the Museum, and this time we have World Championship Gold from Rudi Sporrer (AUT), and a huge photo archive from Mal Anderson (USA). Grateful thanks to you both. We also had visitors from San-Ei Italy, the Vice-President of the Badminton World Federation, and the General Secretary of the International Wushu Federation. The new issue of our magazine is now published, with 32 pages of historical articles, and check out our new security protection! Now I am working hard in preparation of two back-to-back international exhibitions, in Cologne and Dortmund. See you there (assuming I survive!). Chuck

World Championship Gold ITTF Museum Ambassador Rudi Sporrer (AUT) has once again demonstrated his love for our sport, and for preserving and promoting its history. The ITTF Rules Committee Chairman has kindly donated two spectacular gold medals from the World Championships of 1936 (Swaythling Cup won by Austria), and 1938 (Women's Singles, won by Trude Pritzi of Austria). In the photo a surprised and delighted ITTF President Adham Sharara accepts the medals. Following this presentation, Trude Pritzi was inducted into the ITTF Hall of Fame. A great day for all, and a big Bravo to Rudi.

Shanghai Sports Administration Left: Shanghai Sports Administration Director Mr. Li Yuyi studies the ITTF Timeline exhibit, shown by ITTF Executive Director Jordi Serra. Middle: Demonstrating the sound of "Ping"-"Pong" using original drum rackets, always a popular treat. Right: The Shanghai Sports Administration building on the famous Nanjing Road, next to the Shanghai International Hotel. The 500m2 Shanghai branch of the ITTF Museum will be located on the second floor.

Mal Anderson (USA) Photo Archive Photographer Mal Anderson has been a regular fixture at major Table Tennis events for decades, always with his camera at the ready. He has witnessed so much Table Tennis history through his lenses, which he has preserved in a huge archive of over 57,500 photos. Mal has meticulously cataloged and copied all his Table Tennis photos onto over 100 dvds and donated them to the Museum. We are grateful to Mal for sharing this archive with the ITTF Museum, a great visual contribution to the history of our sport. Bravo Mal - keep on clicking!

Mal Anderson (USA)

Recent VIP Visitors Left: Torsten Berg, Vice-President of the Badminton World Federation shows his racket skills against our Newgy robot Middle: San-Ei Italy branch visit (L-R) Paolo Tiraboschi, Tada Shinobu & Director Mr. Shin Muira Right: Jordi Serra welcomes Liu Beijian, an 18-year veteran of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, now General Secretary of the International Wushu Federation. Thank you all for taking the time to visit the ITTF Museum.

Security guard Noé at work (Photo: R. Pettit)

New Security Guard A little warm humor to help thaw the freezing cold temperatures at ITTF HQs ... I am pleased to introduce our new Museum security upgrade, ITTF Executive Assistant Habiba Besic's "attack" dog, Noé. The adorable miniature Chihuahua will make sure nobody takes our rackets!

ITTF Museum Targets Please Help Us Find These Items: Olympic torches: Barcelona 1992 Seoul 1988 Rackets from World & Olympic Champions Missing World Championship match scores: Men's Singles: 1936 Rd/16, 1939 Rd/16, QF Women's: Paris 1933/34: Rd/16,QF,SF 1939: Rd/16, QF Celebrity Table Tennis photos: HRH Prince Harry Usain Bolt Michael Phelps David Beckham

Targeting, an important ITTF Museum strategy Contact the curator to donate any items we are missing. Thanks for your help! Check out how I have helped our museum through my own personal donations: Chuck's Donations I hope that our readers will show a similar spirit of giving to help the ITTF Museum preserve the history of our sport.

Contact the curator to receive e-mails about the new issues: museum@ittf.com

Online Table Tennis History Journal A magazine devoted to the history of Table Tennis and its memorabilia is available free as a pdf download via the ITTF Museum website, or by direct link: Magazine The Table Tennis Collector is published 4 times a year, and is enjoyed not only by collectors across the globe, but also by those who are fascinated by the colorful history of our sport - over 10.5 million pages downloaded in 2010. Each issue is packed with 24+ pages of historic information: research articles, vintage photographs, exhibit reports, and regular columns on auction trends, books and Table Tennis philately. The latest edition was released on 1 February, 32 pages of historical articles, including a feature on the history of defense, a look at the Ferrari of Table Tennis blades, and the story of Elizabeth Taylor's Ping Pong diamonds. Visit the Museum homepage: www.ittf.com/museum and click on the magazine cover icon to retrieve any issue. Allow time for the pdf download to complete, as they average 4 MB in size.

Did You Know ... ?

There are over 10000 pieces in the ITTF Museum, including 1000 rackets! Why not plan a visit to the Museum soon - groups welcome. Contact the curator to make a reservation.