A welcome reception, held at the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Balzan yesterday, inaugurated the Tennis Europe Annual General Meeting that is being held in Malta.

The hotel is also hosting all 95 delegates and other participants for their Malta stay.

Tennis Europe (TE) is an Association of European Tennis Federations, having very close ties with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). In its number, TE hosts two Grand Slam Tournaments and many other important ITF and ATP sanctioned tournaments. This association is probably the most influential within the ITF.

The Malta Tennis Federation (MTF) has built up a very strong relationship with both ITF and TE. Maltese tennis and its national team players have benefited from both grants and technical support. Furthermore, during the last years the MTF has been invited by the two bodies to host and organise some very important international events. Two of these, hosted by MTF last year were the Euro/Africa Group III Fed Cup with 16 visiting countries including Britain and Ireland and the TE Bi-Annual coaches symposium held last November.

The General Meeting business, also to be held at the Corinthia Palace’s conferencing facilities, will be transacted over two days , starting this afternoon with the outgoing President John James giving his presentation on the work carried out during his presidency over the last year. Mr James has been nominated for re-election to the committee of management.

Whilst thanking Malta and the Malta Tennis Federation for hosting the event, Mr James said: “I believe we have moved our Federation forward into a more structured organisation capable of dealing with the ever demanding changing tennis world. We have had a dedicated staff, both those at our headquarters in Basle and those out across Europe”.

A social programme is also being organised for the delegates and their partners. A gala dinner, hosted by the MTF, will be held today at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and the distinguished guests will include Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco, President of the Malta Olympic Committee and Peter Zammit, former president of the MTF. Another dinner is being held tomorrow at the Medina Restaurant on conclusion of the General Meeting.

The programme also includes three excursions organised for both delegates and partners on the three official days of the Annual General Meeting.