Stefano Bosi has announced today his decision to resign from the ETTU Presidency with immediate effect. The Italian, 58, has been in office since 1996.

He said: “It was a hard decision for me as I have spent part of my life at the European Table Tennis Union’s service, but I realised my time has come. In the last few months the situation within ETTU was not the same as I was used to.

“After the ITTF elections last May in Paris, where I was a candidate in opposition to Adham Sharara, I perceived a very difficult atmosphere inside ETTU. For the benefit of our continent and for personal reasons I have decided, after having consulted with most of the Board members, to resign from the position of President.”

The Executive Board shall remain in charge with Deputy-President Jean-Francois Kahn taking over as Acting President until the next ETTU Congress in Schwechat (AUT), scheduled for October 5th, with new elections to reinstate any vacancy.

“I always believed a strong ETTU is the key for our sport’s improvement,” added Bosi: “I hope my way out will help the table tennis family to re-establish cooperation and harmony. I always served ETTU with all my heart and with loyalty.”

In conclusion, Bosi spent some words of gratitude. He said: “I shared so many years with some fantastic people and friends, including most of the Executive Board Members. I worked aside an admirable General Secretariat and a group of professionals whose skills and passion should not be underestimated with the same interest in table tennis. I’ve no regrets definitively, I hope every one of my opponents feels the same.

“I thank all the associations for the incredible help they have given to my passion and for the clear support they demonstrated during the elections in Herning one year ago. All the best to table tennis and ciao.”

Original Source: ETTU (August 9, 2013)