Belgium’s 39 year old Jean-Michel Saive, the living legend of
Belgian table tennis, has been elected to serve for a four year term of
office on the Belgian Olympic Committee Interfederal (COIB).
At
the General Assembly held on Friday 6th June 2009, Saive received 67
votes and will serve as one of the seven Francophone Directors on a
board which comprises 15 directors.
The Board has an equal
number of Francophone and Flemish members plus one German speaking
member; the term of office is from 2009 to 2012.
Two members of the Board are nominated by the Development Committee
of Belgian Sports (CDSB) which is chaired by Eddie Merckx, rated by
many as the greatest cyclist of all time.
Playing Career Continues
Saive will attend approximately eight meetings per year but has no intention of curtailing his playing career.
He intends to continue to represent La Villette Charleroi whilst also competing on the ITTF Pro Tour.
Major Successes
Jean-Michel
Saive has appeared in all six Olympic Games where table tennis has been
staged, he was runner up in the Men’s Singles event at the World
Championships in 1993; whilst in the following year he won the Men’s
Singles title at the European Championships in Birmingham and the
Europe Top 12 in the Italian city of Arezzo.
Three Decades
He has won three Men’s Singles titles on the ITTF Pro Tour and has been competing internationally during three decades.
In 1984, he won the Cadet Boys’ Singles crown at the European Youth Championships.
Source: www.ittf.com
