says
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https://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis-de-ta...plongee-dans-la-crise-par-la-pandemie/1137107
Faced with major difficulties - postponement of the Olympic Games, stopping of competitions - the planet of "ping" is looking for a way out of the crisis.
Patrick Issert
updated on May 24, 2020 at 7:11 p.m.
“If there is an ideal time to reinvent yourself, it's now! The Australian Steve Dainton has a voluntarist and conquering speech. But his words feel the elements of language. The director general of the International Federation (ITTF) is well aware that his reform of the calendar from 2021, intended to revive the media coverage of the "ping", will take place against the backdrop of a serious financial crisis.
Because suppressing the Worlds and creating four major Grand Slam-type events, on the model of tennis or golf, requires convinced sponsors. Hence the need to give the image of a federation led by resolute leaders. Especially in times of bad weather. Because, like many international federations, the ITTF is suffering from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. “We can no longer organize events. So the money, especially the TV contracts related to these events, are no longer there, "laments Thomas Weikert, German president of the ITTF.
$ 5 million in losses
"For us, the consequences of the crisis could translate into losses of around 5 million dollars (4.6 M €), details the boss of the world" ping ", less tongue in cheek than its director general. But everything will depend on the turn of events. If we manage to organize, in the last quarter of 2020, the Worlds (by teams) and one or two World Cups, the impact of the crisis could be reduced, ”he continues.
And to these losses is added the unknown CIO. After each edition of the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee pays back to the federations a share of its profits. “For 2016-2020, we received $ 18 million (€ 16.5 million). For 2020-2024, the amount had to be identical. The Games have been postponed, but we should collect the amount eventually. This comes out of a phone call I had with Thomas Bach (President of the IOC). But nothing is yet recorded. Initially, we planned a global budget for 2020 of 27 million dollars (24.8 M €), he sighs. But our forecasts are now in the region of 20 million (€ 18.4 million). "
A disputed president
Without waiting, the ITTF took cost-saving measures. "These are salary reductions for our staff, whether permanent or not," says Thomas Weikert. They were implemented with the agreement of the employees. According to an informed source, these cuts would reach 30%, even 50% of wages. But senior leaders are also affected. Thus, the president would have renounced all compensation. In addition, certain development actions could be canceled. In short, reductions in all directions to control costs and above all reassure sponsors.
The new organization of competitions led by Dainton requires their active support. Because "the attention paid to our sport has been minimal in the entire global media landscape," argues the CEO from Singapore, a fiscally welcoming environment where the ITTF marketing department is located. Having to apply for an IOC loan to get through this difficult passage would be of the worst effect. However, the situation is getting worse, politically this time, when we know that Weikert was committed to serving only one term at the head of the ITTF, before finally changing his mind in February. Such a flip-flop was not to the taste of some. Thus, Qatari vice-president Khalil al-Mohammadi and Sweden's Petra Sörling, executive vice-president in charge of finance, called for the election of a new president. The clouds are gathering and the ITTF risks being well shaken in this perilous zone of turbulence ...
The International Federation plunged into crisis by the pandemicLa Fédération internationale plongée dans la crise par la pandémie
Confrontée à de grosses difficultés - report des JO, arrêt des compétitions -, la planète du « ping » recherche une issue à la crise.
Patrick Issert
mis à jour le 24 mai 2020 à 19h11
« S'il existe un moment idéal pour se réinventer, c'est maintenant ! » L'Australien Steve Dainton a le discours volontariste et conquérant. Mais ses propos sentent les éléments de langage. Le directeur général de la Fédération internationale (ITTF) sait bien que sa réforme du calendrier à partir de 2021, destinée à relancer la médiatisation du « ping », se fera sur fond de grave crise financière.
Car supprimer les Mondiaux et créer quatre épreuves majeures de type Grand Chelem, sur le modèle du tennis ou du golf, suppose des sponsors convaincus. D'où la nécessité de donner l'image d'une fédération pilotée par des dirigeants résolus. Surtout en période de gros temps. Car, comme nombre de fédérations internationales, l'ITTF souffre des conséquences de la pandémie de coronavirus. « Nous ne pouvons plus organiser d'événements. Donc les rentrées d'argent, notamment les contrats télé liés à ces épreuves, ne sont plus au rendez-vous », déplore Thomas Weikert, président allemand de l'ITTF.
5 millions de dollars de pertes
« Pour nous, les conséquences de la crise pourraient se traduire par des pertes d'environ 5 millions de dollars (4,6 M€), détaille le patron du « ping » mondial, moins langue de bois que son directeur général. Mais tout dépendra de la tournure des événements. Si nous parvenons à organiser, au dernier trimestre 2020, les Mondiaux (par équipes) et une ou deux Coupes du monde, l'impact de la crise pourrait en être minoré », poursuit-il.
Et à ces pertes s'ajoute l'inconnue CIO. Après chaque édition des JO, le Comité international olympique reverse aux fédérations une part de ses gains. « Pour 2016-2020, nous avons perçu 18 millions de dollars (16,5 M€). Pour 2020-2024, le montant devait être identique. Les Jeux ont été repoussés, mais nous devrions percevoir à terme la somme prévue. C'est ce qui ressort d'un appel téléphonique que j'ai eu avec Thomas Bach (président du CIO). Mais rien n'est encore acté. Initialement, nous avions envisagé un budget global pour 2020 de 27 millions de dollars (24,8 M€), soupire-t-il. Mais nos prévisions sont désormais de l'ordre de 20 millions (18,4 M€). »
Un président contesté
Sans attendre, l'ITTF a pris des mesures d'économie. « Ce sont des réductions de salaires pour notre personnel, permanent ou non, précise Thomas Weikert. Elles ont été mises en place avec l'accord des salariés. » De source bien informée, ces coupes atteindraient 30 %, voire 50 % des salaires. Mais les hauts dirigeants sont aussi touchés. Ainsi, le président aurait renoncé à toute indemnisation. Par ailleurs, certaines actions en matière de développement pourraient être annulées. Bref, des réductions tous azimuts pour maîtriser les coûts et surtout rassurer les sponsors.
La nouvelle organisation des compétitions portée par Dainton suppose leur soutien actif. Car « l'attention accordée à notre sport a été minime dans l'ensemble du paysage médiatique mondial », plaide le directeur général depuis Singapour, cadre fiscalement accueillant où le département marketing de l'ITTF est implanté. Devoir solliciter un prêt du CIO pour franchir cette passe difficile serait du plus mauvais effet. Or la situation se corse, politiquement cette fois, quand on sait que Weikert s'était engagé à ne faire qu'un mandat à la tête de l'ITTF, avant de finalement changer d'avis en février. Une telle volte-face n'a pas été du goût de certains. Ainsi, le vice-président qatarien Khalil al-Mohammadi et la Suédoise Petra Sörling, vice-présidente exécutive en charge des finances, ont appelé à l'élection d'un nouveau président. Les nuages s'amoncellent et l'ITTF risque d'être bien secouée dans cette périlleuse zone de turbulences...
publié le 24 mai 2020 à 15h00
mis à jour le 24 mai 2020 à 19h11
Faced with major difficulties - postponement of the Olympic Games, stopping of competitions - the planet of "ping" is looking for a way out of the crisis.
Patrick Issert
updated on May 24, 2020 at 7:11 p.m.
“If there is an ideal time to reinvent yourself, it's now! The Australian Steve Dainton has a voluntarist and conquering speech. But his words feel the elements of language. The director general of the International Federation (ITTF) is well aware that his reform of the calendar from 2021, intended to revive the media coverage of the "ping", will take place against the backdrop of a serious financial crisis.
Because suppressing the Worlds and creating four major Grand Slam-type events, on the model of tennis or golf, requires convinced sponsors. Hence the need to give the image of a federation led by resolute leaders. Especially in times of bad weather. Because, like many international federations, the ITTF is suffering from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. “We can no longer organize events. So the money, especially the TV contracts related to these events, are no longer there, "laments Thomas Weikert, German president of the ITTF.
$ 5 million in losses
"For us, the consequences of the crisis could translate into losses of around 5 million dollars (4.6 M €), details the boss of the world" ping ", less tongue in cheek than its director general. But everything will depend on the turn of events. If we manage to organize, in the last quarter of 2020, the Worlds (by teams) and one or two World Cups, the impact of the crisis could be reduced, ”he continues.
And to these losses is added the unknown CIO. After each edition of the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee pays back to the federations a share of its profits. “For 2016-2020, we received $ 18 million (€ 16.5 million). For 2020-2024, the amount had to be identical. The Games have been postponed, but we should collect the amount eventually. This comes out of a phone call I had with Thomas Bach (President of the IOC). But nothing is yet recorded. Initially, we planned a global budget for 2020 of 27 million dollars (24.8 M €), he sighs. But our forecasts are now in the region of 20 million (€ 18.4 million). "
A disputed president
Without waiting, the ITTF took cost-saving measures. "These are salary reductions for our staff, whether permanent or not," says Thomas Weikert. They were implemented with the agreement of the employees. According to an informed source, these cuts would reach 30%, even 50% of wages. But senior leaders are also affected. Thus, the president would have renounced all compensation. In addition, certain development actions could be canceled. In short, reductions in all directions to control costs and above all reassure sponsors.
The new organization of competitions led by Dainton requires their active support. Because "the attention paid to our sport has been minimal in the entire global media landscape," argues the CEO from Singapore, a fiscally welcoming environment where the ITTF marketing department is located. Having to apply for an IOC loan to get through this difficult passage would be of the worst effect. However, the situation is getting worse, politically this time, when we know that Weikert was committed to serving only one term at the head of the ITTF, before finally changing his mind in February. Such a flip-flop was not to the taste of some. Thus, Qatari vice-president Khalil al-Mohammadi and Sweden's Petra Sörling, executive vice-president in charge of finance, called for the election of a new president. The clouds are gathering and the ITTF risks being well shaken in this perilous zone of turbulence ...
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