ITF

The ITF has published its 2021 ITF Annual Review, providing a full report of our activities last year as we rebounded after the Covid-19 pandemic, and a detailed breakdown of finances. The annual reporting data shows that, in line with our mission to deliver tennis for future generations, each year we reinvest approximately 90% of our income back into growing the sport. This level of investment is set to continue. The ITF's operating income in 2021 grew to $66.6 million from $35.6 million in 2020, having been impacted over the course of two years due to the global pandemic. The last full year of pre-pandemic accounts was 2019, when the ITF generated operating income of $88.7 million. In 2021 the ITF increased operating expenditure – its investment in tennis – by 67.3% to $74.8 million from $44.7 million in 2020 as part of our journey back to recovery. In 2021 we chose to draw on $5.5 million of our reserves in order to continue to deliver high levels of investment. The pandemic cost the ITF more than $75 million in revenues over two years (2020 and 2021) when compared to 2019 operating income. Over the last decade, the ITF has contributed more than half a billion US dollars into tennis globally, in addition to the significant contribution of our member national associations around the world. As well as providing an annual financial snapshot, the Annual Review is a handy guide to everything that the ITF does to grow the game. You can read it here: www.itftennis.com/en/ about-us/organisation/publications-and- resources/publications ITF publishes Annual Review The fourth edition of the ITF World Participation Conference was held virtually in July. Across three days of absorbing discussion, 50 speakers shared their experiences, expert knowledge and up-to-date information in 12 different topics and sessions, reflecting the conference's theme of 'maximising play and enjoyment to drive participation'. Hosted by renowned British presenter Karthi Gnanasegaram, numerous ITF member nations, international sport organisations, academic institutions, ITF partners and staff contributed to and enriched the largest ITF World Participation Conference to date. There were also keynote presentations from esteemed current and former players including Olympic champion Monica Puig, three-time Roland Garros winner Gustavo Kuerten and former world No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis. Former Australian No. 1 Casey Dellacqua, 20-time Grand Slam wheelchair champion Alfie Hewett, South Africa's Kgothatso Montjane and Angella Okutoyi of Kenya also offered valuable insight. "Participation is massively important," said Puig during a Q&A session as part of the conference. "Nowadays, it is so important to connect with the outside world as so often we're on our phones, laptops or iPads, confined to this work bubble when happiness and excitement is outside. "Playing sport is not only fun but can teach you some important life lessons also. Tennis has taught me a lot of patience and perseverance, while learning a new sport or a new skill can teach you a lot about yourself, and those tools can be used to teach others." Topics included: the nature of fun and how it underpins participation, the ITF World Tennis Number including case studies from nations that have launched the global ratings system, the ITF's Advantage All strategy, and barriers to participation. The ITF World Participation Conference continues to grow in scope and reach - more than 1,200 attendees and 130 speakers haven taken part across its four editions, all helping to drive the participation debate. A stream of the 2022 ITF World Participation Conference as well as individual sessions in English, French and Spanish can be accessed through the ITF Academy at www.itf-academy.com Fun is the key, says ITF World Participation Conference NEWS ROUND-UP

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