ITF

10 ITFWorld // SUMMER 2018 One such feature was a gender equality discussion panel with members of the ITF's Women in Sport Committee and WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon, with the focus centred on tennis becoming an equal advantage sport in every facet of the game. This segued into the launch of the ITF's Advantage All campaign, which is based around five key themes – empowerment, balance, culture, value and voice – and aimed at promoting gender equality. "Our vision is that tennis is an equal advantage sport," said Adams, who as well as being the USTA President is also Chair of the ITF's Women in Sport Committee. "Tennis is better for everyone when we all get an equal opportunity to play, compete and lead in the game we all love." Advantage All follows the establishment of the ITF Women in Sport Committee and the Empowering Female Leaders programme, and reflects the ITF's commitment to creating more opportunities for women to be leaders in sport. As part of the campaign, the Foundation of Global Sports Development has provided the ITF with a grant to fund the Empowering Female Leaders programme, which will consist of workshops, education course and professional development. Delegates from the nations were also invited to attend interactive workshops, including education on how the new ITF Rating project can support National Associations to increase tennis participation in their countries. Another strand of the conference saw representatives from several ITF departments provide information on the projects being carried out in line with the governing body's policy objectives. Incorporated within this was a question and answer session on the ITF's Development Strategy, and updates on the ITF's financial performance and player pathway project. Important governance reforms were also voted upon. The AGM chose to entrust the ITF's Board of Directors with the power to amend Davis Cup and Fed Cup regulations, with Haggerty suggesting it was vital to have the latitude to make decisions on flagship competitions in a more nimble fashion. In addition, a motion to increase the size of the elected Board of Directors from 13 to 14, sitting alongside two Board-appointed athlete representatives, was approved, as were a series of regulation changes and clarifications to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup. It was also agreed to reduce annual subscription costs for Class C members from USD $767 to USD $250, while the green light was given to providing one-vote Class B nations with rebates through various Development projects' funding. The ITF's 2019 Conference and AGM, meanwhile, will be held in Lisbon, Portugal during the week commencing 23 September. AWARDS The AGM approved Awards for Services to the Game, including a nomination by the Coaches Commission for former world No. 2 Conchita Martinez (ESP). Other recipients were: Sandra Osborne (BAR), Gevork Karamanoukian (ARM), Dr Dimitrije Rasovic (MNE), George Stevenson (IRL), Abdulrahman Falaknaz (UAE), Viktor Yanchuk (RUS), Aleksandr Dolgopolov (UKR), Barbara Rittner (GER), Raul Viver (ECU), Pablo Cuevas (URU) and Brian Earley (USA). Osborne and Rasovic were presented with their awards at the AGM. Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia was presented with the International Tennis Hall of Fame Global Organisation of Distinction Award in recognition of its service and contribution towards the growth of tennis. Kooyong holds a revered place in tennis history, both domestically and internationally, having produced a long list of Australian players and being the home of the Australian Open Championships from 1972 until 1988. ■ ABOVE: ITF President David Haggerty with Lawn Tennis Association President David Rawlinson, at a lunch hosted by the LTA Haggerty with award winner Dr Dimitrije Rasovic of Montenegro Sandra Osborne of Barbados is presented with her award C O N F E R E N C E A N D A G M

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