"Peace is not only the absence of war"
December 1, 2009

Certified ITTF – the Development Program received the award
as recognition of its peace efforts.
Photo By Courtesy of ITTF

Courtesy of ITTF

The ITTF Development officers Leandro Olvech and Glenn Tepper look back to the peace and sport award gala for the best peace project. While Leandro Olvech was in Monaco on the occasion of the award ceremony, Glenn Tepper followed impatiently from Australia.

After reading this conversation, you will know why Argentineans are more humorous than Frenchmen and what impact this award has on the upcoming Volkswagen World Junior Championships.

Leandro, the award ceremony was on Thursday November 26th, but from when to when did you stay in Monaco?
Leandro Olvech: I have been there from 25 to 28th.

Where did you stay? What about Monaco and what did you see of the city-state?
LO: We were at the Fairmont hotel. Monaco is a kind of bubble where everything is elegant and rich, all cars are luxurious, there is no rubbish on the streets, everything is fancy. Someone told me that the square meter costs 50,000 Euros.

Were you nervous before the award ceremony?
LO: I really felt confident about it but didn’t want to say anything. As the agenda was quite busy I didn’t have time to think so much in advance. I felt much more nervous about the workshop and plenary session as I had to speak in front of many people.

Successful partners in the different development projects–
Glenn Tepper (left) and Leandro Olvech.
Photo By: Marius Widmer

“We All Share this Honor”
Glenn, as driving force behind the Development Program, you must be very proud, right?
Glenn Tepper: Having been responsible for setting up the ITTF Development Program I feel very proud of this award. There is however many people whose energies and passion for working in the developing countries has allowed ITTF to achieve this award, and we all share this honor.

What is the important point of winning in Monaco?
GT: This award has created huge waves across the table tennis community. We believe the effect of these waves will wash across the shores of all our developing countries. All those involved with the Development Program will move forward with increased motivation knowing that the sacrifices made are appreciated and acknowledged.

Leandro you were moderator of the workshop “Integrating the practice of sport into sustainable peace processes” (click here to see the video). What message did you bring across to the people?
LO: That peace is not only the absence of war; that the best way to implement a sport program in a context to bring the peace is through partnership with international and national organizations, government, media, etc.; and even if using a global strategy, it must be adapted locally. Programs on the field should be accompanied by awareness campaigns.

Workshop experts Jean-Philippe Fleurian (left) and Andreas Abold
with moderator Leandro Olvech.
Photo by Courtesy of Leandro Olvech

How important are such occasions for the ITTF/ITTF Development Program?
LO: You normally don’t meet so many people from outside the sport (or even outside table tennis) to discuss. It is also an opportunity for the ITTF for exposure, about the work we are doing and to see what the others are doing. Furthermore it is a big chance for networking.

How was the gala evening between princes and leaders and VIPs etc.?
LO: I didn’t feel uncomfortable as I met most of the people the days before so the ice was broken already. Just a story, I was sitting at the table with people from AS Monaco (French Ligue 1 soccer club), SportAccord, IPC, Military Sport and the French football federation. The man from the FFF was sitting on my left and just to start a conversation, when he told me he was from FFF, I told him: ‘I am from Argentina’ and asked him: ‘Do you know what we have in common? We both had a "Hand of God". We had Maradona in ‘86, you have the other one’ (editor’s note: Thierry Henry’ hands against Ireland in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match). When he didn’t laugh, I realized my joke wasn’t politically correct, but the AS Monaco people were still laughing.

A group photo after the award ceremony with the winners, Prince Albert and
Joël Bouzou (in the middle) as well as the ITTF delegation with
Thomas Weikert and Leandro Olvech (far left).
Photo by Courtesy of Leandro Olvech

Have you experienced such an evening before in your life?
LO: I have some had occasions with VIPs, but never so many of them together!

“I hope they can spend some time with the kids “

What's the influence on the Volkswagen World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Colombia?
GT: The Peace and Sport Award will no doubt have a big impact on the World Junior Championships in Cartagena as our main humanitarian project for 2009 is based in three regions of Colombia, one of which is Cartagena. This project is also in conjunction with Peace and Sport and local NGO named Colombianitos. The Tournament Director, Jairo Paez, President of Colombia Table Tennis Association when the project commenced, has been a vital link in the project and has assisted greatly. All will be present at the World Championships, Peace and Sport, Colombianitos, Jairo Paez and selected children from each of the regions targeted.

LO: We will bring many kids from Bogota, Cali and Cartagena to the World Junior Championships on 11th and 12th to watch the matches. There will be a table for them to play, I hope many players from the championships can spend some time with the kids, to talk, take pictures and play some strokes and give them some tips.
We are very lucky that it is played in Colombia and that the players are at a similar age as the "Colombianitos" as they can be used as role models. We will also promote the use of sport for peace as an awareness campaign.

“The idea is to bring table tennis to refugees’ camps”
What are the next goals?
LO: To continue with this program in Colombia; we want to start soon a next one in Palestine too in partnership with Peace and Sport, strengthen the relationship with Generations for Peace (an NGO based in Amman, Jordan) and to continue with some programs with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees; the idea is to bring table tennis to refugees’ camps. We are very motivated in the Development department with these programs and after the award even more!

GT: Our last big project for 2009 was completed in Iraq in November, where one of our specialist "humanitarian" experts Ahmed Dawlatly led Coach Education, Training Camp and ITTF provided 10 elite tables from Stag. Next year we plan to expand our co-operation with Peace and Sport in areas such as Palestine and East Timor, in addition to our 100 courses we complete worldwide annually.