The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) has officially launched the election process for the 2025 Athletes’ Commission, inviting eligible players across Europe to step forward as candidates or prepare to cast their votes later this year.
The election will coincide with two major events on the continental calendar: the 2025 European Table Tennis Championships and the 2025 European Para Table Tennis Championships. The Athletes’ Commission will be composed of five members: four elected by athletes participating in the European Championships and one by para athletes during the Para Championships.
Acknowledging the structural changes in recent editions of the European Championships, ETTU has introduced a revised voting procedure to ensure broader athlete representation and accessibility.
The new system enables athletes at all competitive stages to participate:
- Stage 1 of the European Championships (Sarajevo, BIH): Eligible athletes whose teams do not qualify for the Final Stage can vote online via a secure platform.
- Final Stage of the European Championships (Zadar, CRO): Voting will be conducted in person at the competition venue.
- European Para Championships (Helsingborg, SWE): Para athletes will vote in person on-site.
To run as a candidate, athletes must meet the following conditions:
- Be at least 16 years old by election time.
- Have participated in one of the following events within the past four years: 2021 ETTC Cluj-Napoca, 2022 ETTC Munich, 2023 ETTC Malmö, 2023 Para TT EC Sheffield, 2024 ETTC Linz
- Be free of doping or illegal betting sanctions.
- Be nominated by their National Association (up to two candidates per association)
Candidates must submit a signed nomination form along with a recent photo by Wednesday, 6 August 2025 (midnight CET) to registration@ettu.org and projects@ettu.org.
Following a review by the ETTU Executive Board, eligible candidates will be officially announced and allowed to begin their campaign via press, interviews, and social media. ETTU will maintain strict neutrality throughout the campaign, promoting all candidates equally.
Election Outcome and Commission Structure
Once elected, the Commission will comprise:
The top-ranked male and female athletes
The next two athletes with the highest votes (gender-neutral)
One para table tennis athlete with the most votes in Helsingborg
To ensure diversity, only one athlete per country may serve on the Commission (except for the Para TT representative).
The new Commission will propose a Chair to the ETTU Executive Board. The elected Chair will serve as a full voting member of the Executive Board, ensuring that athletes’ voices are heard at the highest level of governance.
ETTU Deputy Secretary General Galia DVORAK emphasized the importance of athlete engagement in the process:
“We encourage all Member Associations and athletes to participate actively in this important process to ensure that the voice of the athletes is well represented within the ETTU.”
You can consult the election guide
