Questions from Kenzo Yamamatsu, Chief Editor of The Table Tennis Report (Butterfly):
1) ITTF has decided to ban all table tennis glues that contain toxic materials on September 1, 2007. Please indicate how this decision was reached (points of discussion, etc.) and what the objectives of this decision are. Why is September 1, 2007 the date to start this ban? There were many trials to ban the glues in the past.
Answer:
A proposal was made by Mr. Kimura of Japan as a member of the ITTF Board of Directors to not allow gluing in the playing venue as of 1 September 2005 and to ban the use of toxic glue as of 1 September 2006. However, after many discussions and several explanations by members of the Board it was decided to accept the proposal from Mr. Kimura but to delay the implementation to 1 September 2006 for gluing outside the hall, and 1 September 2007 for the total ban. In the meantime it was decided to form a Working Group to study this proposal and the method to implement the new rule. The Working Group is chaired by Mr. George Segun (ITTF Vice President) and the members are Mr. Odd Gustavsen, Dr. Rufford Harrison and Dr. Jean Francois Kahn, plus we will invite some experts to be part of this working group who will report for the first time in Shanghai.
2) The ITTF homepage described before March 12, 2004, that the glues, containing organic solvents, should be banned. However, this description was changed on March 13, 2004 to the glues, containing toxic materials. Was there any intention behind this new expression?
Answer:
No there was no specific intention. The actual objective is to ban glues containing any toxic material. The solvents generate most of these toxic materials. But to make it clear, the intent is to use glues that do not have any toxic materials and to protect the health of our athletes.
3) The ITTF announcement on their website of March 13, 2004 is so far the last official information relating to the banning of glues, containing the toxic materials. Is there any new movement or decision on this subject after that date?
Answer:
No, not yet. The Working Group has not met yet. They will meet for the first time in Barcelona this summer at “C.A.R.” the Sports Research centre in Barcelona (recognized by the IOC)
4) ITTF has set up a working group to make research of the glues. What kind of research will its members be making? Could you mention us concretely?
Answer:
They will meet to determine how to implement the new rules as passed by the ITTF Board of Directors. Their job is to recommend to the Board in Shanghai exactly what to do. What procedures to follow, what elements to be examined, etc. Their first work will be to meet with specialists at the Research centre in Barcelona.
5) In case the working group would conclude that the toxic materials, which are contained in the presently approved glues, do not harm prominently the human body, do you think that such currently approved glues can be used further on?
Answer:
We do not know. We must first wait and see what they will recommend. We must give them sufficient time to study the matter carefully without any outside influence.
6) Do you intend to ban all currently approved glues, regardless of which kind conclusion the working group may reach? Or, under which circumstances could the currently approved glues be used after September 1, 2007?
Answer:
Again, I do not know. This decision would be made based on the results, recommendations and conclusions of the working group.
7) What are the standards of the table tennis glues that ITTF would accept?
Answer:
This decision would be made by the experts that we will consult in this matter based on the frequency of use and the conditions regarding table tennis players and table tennis halls.
8) If all glues are banned on September 1, 2007, how could the rubbers be put on the blades afterwards? Do you have any substitutes in sight?
Answer:
This is also part of the research to be done. I have heard that very soon will be on the market some type of water-based glue free of any toxic materials that has the same characteristics of the current glues. We must just wait and see. This work will take AT LEAST one or two years to be concluded.
9) What kind of conclusion does ITTF expect? How should the playing hall look like after September 1, 2007?
Answer:
We do not have any expectation. We must wait and see what the experts will tell the Working group, and then we must see what the working group will recommend.
10) Do you have any blue prints on how the rackets should be controlled after September 1, 2007? How should the approved glues be controlled by the ITTF in the future?
Answer:
It would be using a similar method as we do now, unless the Research centre will propose a new method. Again, we must just wait and see. There is no need to speculate before the work of the Working group has even started. |
