ITF

4 ITFWORLD SUMMER 2017 W ith a theme this year of Delivering for Nations, it was fitting that the 2017 ITF Conference & AGM should be attended by a record-breaking number of national associations. One hundred and fourteen nations travelled to Vietnam for the assembly on 1-4 August, including a record number of 16 Class C (non-voting) nations. The four-day meeting focused on how the ITF is delivering the ITF2024 strategy for its members, and culminated in formal voting on a number of constitutional amendments and proposed reforms to Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. There were 13 first-time attendees, who were Democratic Republic Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, Kiribati, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Tahiti and Zimbabwe. Hosting the event in Ho Chi Minh City was the Vietnam Tennis Federation under its President Nguyen Quoc Ky. In his opening address, ITF President David Haggerty emphasised that every nation has a voice within the ITF and that this new attitude and approach was reflected in the many interactive sessions, open committee meetings and question- and-answer opportunities giving member nations the chance to have their say. Haggerty stressed the need for the ITF and its member nations to work together, and hailed the assembly as "the most important meeting that the ITF has held in many years." Haggerty outlined how the ITF has distributed new funds worth $11.7 million to nations since 2015, in order to develop, grow and promote tennis around the world. He explained that the governing body of tennis is well on its way to doubling its revenue by 2020 to ensure that the ITF is delivering for nations. There was further financial good news in the first session of the Conference, in which Executive Director of Tennis Development Luca Santilli told nations how the ITF planned to increase the funding of tennis development by $4.4 million between 2016 and 2018. Santilli highlighted how the existing and newly-launched programmes within the ITF's 2017-2020 development strategy can support national associations to deliver the next generation of players and fans. The ITF has identified four strategic development pillars — events, facilities, coaching and programmes (including both participation and performance programmes) — that will allow it to deliver on the two core objectives of increasing participation and developing talented players. A new coach education programme, the Online Coaching Academy, is due to be launched in 2018, and the introduction of a series of 12 & under team competitions in 2017 will further support the transition of AGM VOTES FOR DAVIS CUP AND FED CUP REFORMS The 2017 ITF Conference & AGM was significant for the number of nations that attended, and for the important changes to Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas that it ushered in. ITF AGM

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