Concerns over Qatari involvement in international sports heighten after incidents at the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha.
**Qatar's Ambitious Table Tennis Strategy Under Fire Amid Controversy**
**Qatar's Ambitious Table Tennis Strategy Under Fire Amid Controversy**
Qatar's bid to control global table tennis governance is raising eyebrows, as scrutiny over its influence intensifies.
In a starkly empty venue on the outskirts of Doha, the table tennis world championships saw elite players compete fiercely, overshadowed by a covert battle for the sport's governance. A wealthy businessman from Qatar, Khalil Al-Mohannadi, is vying for the presidency of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), sparking allegations of questionable practices. Despite table tennis being one of the globe's most popular sports, particularly in East Asia, local interest in Qatar remains lukewarm.
Investigations based on interviews with current and former officials raise red flags concerning Qatar's flashy spending and purported penchant for bribery not just in table tennis, but across various sports. The recent detention of Georg Silberschmidt, a Swiss whistleblower and past official with the Swiss Table Tennis Federation, during the Doha championships, highlights the tense atmosphere. Silberschmidt was reportedly apprehended by over 20 security personnel after distributing flyers for a new players' union advocating for athletes’ rights. This incident adds another layer to the growing scrutiny of Qatar's intentions within the sports domain.
Investigations based on interviews with current and former officials raise red flags concerning Qatar's flashy spending and purported penchant for bribery not just in table tennis, but across various sports. The recent detention of Georg Silberschmidt, a Swiss whistleblower and past official with the Swiss Table Tennis Federation, during the Doha championships, highlights the tense atmosphere. Silberschmidt was reportedly apprehended by over 20 security personnel after distributing flyers for a new players' union advocating for athletes’ rights. This incident adds another layer to the growing scrutiny of Qatar's intentions within the sports domain.
