The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has launched a historic process to reform its Constitution, marking the first step in introducing fresh new ITTF Statutes for the next centenary of the sport.
This initiative is rooted in the mandate of the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the supreme governing body of the ITTF, where the Membership overwhelmingly approved a resolution, proposed by the ITTF Executive Board, for the Federation to undertake a comprehensive renewal of its Statutes. The resolution called for the ITTF to modernize its governance framework so that it reflects more accurately the evolution of table tennis, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the world we live in today and tomorrow.
The process will begin with the Constitution, the foundational document that governs the entire ITTF structure. The new Constitution will be shaped by the members and for the members of the global table tennis family. The reform will also be aligned with the celebrations of the ITTF Centenary in 2026, making this process both a unifying milestone and a forward-looking moment for the global table tennis community.
To guarantee full impartiality, ITTF Leadership has removed itself entirely from the reform. The process is fully entrusted to and coordinated by Dr. Andrés Constantin, ITTF newly appointed Governance Manager.
A Reform Built on Values
- Transparency – Documents, timelines, and outcomes will be openly shared at every stage of the process.
- Inclusivity – Every Continental Federation, Member Association (MA), and official will have meaningful opportunities to contribute. This is not a top-down rewrite; it is a co-created Constitution in which every member has ownership.
- Independence – The process is safeguarded, entrusted fully to the ITTF Governance Manager for impartiality.
- Accountability – ITTF Family feedback will receive acknowledgment and a reasoned response, ensuring that input is not only collected but acted upon.
- Future-Readiness – Proposals will be measured against best practices and long-term sustainability, preparing the sport for its next century.
Starting with the Constitution is not only practical but also methodologically sound: it sets the stage for coherent and meaningful reform.
“Constitutional reform is not just about drafting a legal text, it is about trust, legitimacy, and shaping the future together,” said Dr. Andrés Constantin, ITTF Governance Manager. “By embedding participation at every step, we ensure the new ITTF Constitution truly belongs to the ITTF Family.”
A Participatory Process Designed For Meaningful Input
- Regional Dialogues
- Regional meetings under Chatham House Rules and with interpretation support
- Summary reports of regional dialogues published, summarizing key proposals and divergent views.
- Direct Engagement
- Anonymous Feedback Form for submission of official proposals (open to all MAs).
- One-to-One Consultations for stakeholders seeking tailored guidance.
- Accessibility & Translation
- Plain-language summaries, working translations, interpretation support, and accessible formats for all major documents.
- Transparency Mechanisms
- Public Comment Log (tracking every submission, its source, and how it was addressed).
- Summary reports after each phase.
“Participation is at the heart of this process,” said Dr. Constantin. “We are not just opening the door, we are actively building multiple pathways to ensure everyone, everywhere, can contribute meaningfully and see their voice reflected in the outcome.”
About The Process Lead
Dr. Andrés Constantin is the ITTF Governance Manager. Born and raised in Argentina, Dr. Constantin is a lawyer trained at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) and holds both a Master of Laws and a Doctorate in Juridical Sciences from Georgetown University (USA).
He has collaborated and worked with the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as provided legal and policy advice to governments in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He has led high-impact initiatives, supported strategic litigation, and facilitated multi-stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors.
Dr. Constantin also serves as a Visiting Professor of Law at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University. His background across legal systems and cultural contexts informs his interdisciplinary approach to rule-based, transparent, and equitable governance.
“My responsibility is to steward a neutral, rigorous, and accessible process,” Dr. Constantin concluded. “We will meet stakeholders where they are—regionally, linguistically, and practically—and we will publish clear evidence of how their input shapes the text. Anchored in the AGM mandate and aligned with our Centenary, this is an extraordinary opportunity to renew the ITTF, together, and for the future of table tennis.”
About the ITTF Centenary
Founded in 1926, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) will soon celebrate its centenary, marking 100 years of shaping the global development of table tennis. From its first World Championships in London to becoming one of the world’s largest international federations with 227 Member Associations, the ITTF has guided the sport’s journey across a century. The Centenary will be highlighted by the ITTF World Championships Finals 2026 in London, returning to the birthplace of both the Federation and the World Championships, in a celebration of history, unity, and the sport’s bright future.
Get Involved by visiting the ITTF Centenary Constitutional Reform dedicated webpage here.