The International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) has announced a commitment to maintaining its mixed gender status, making it one of the few sports in the world where women and men compete on an equal playing field.
Teqball is set to make its debut in a major multi-sports event after being added to the programme for next year's Asian Beach Games in Sanya.
Teqball has received another boost in its effort to be recognised around the world with the news that it is to be a demonstration sport at this year's African Beach Games and African Games.
Brazilian footballing icon Ronaldinho has become the latest high-profile retired player to back emerging sport teqball.
The International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) has been officially recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at the continental governing body’s General Assembly here.
Former international footballers Luis Figo and Christian Karembeu were among the players to promote the sport of teqball, a table tennis-football hybrid which was demonstrated at the SPORTELMonaco convention here today.
Hungary and Romania celebrated success at the inaugural edition of the Teqball World Cup in Budapest.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iranian judoka Arash Miresmaeili was disqualified for weighing in at nearly four pounds above the limit for his weight class of his under-66 kilograms match against an Israeli opponent Ehud Vaks in the first round. It was claimed Miresmaeili had gone on an eating binge to protest the International Olympic Committee's recognition of the state of Israel. Iran does not recognise the state of Israel, and Miresmaeili's actions won praise from high-ranking Iranian officials. Mohammad Khatami, the country's President at the time, was quoted as saying Miresmaili's actions would be "recorded in the history of Iranian glories". He was later awarded $125,000 by the Government - the same amount given to Olympic gold medallists.
AIBA - Senior PR & Communication Manager - Lausanne, Switzerland
The PR & Communication Senior Manager is responsible to develop and implement AIBA's communication strategy.
Jakob Larsen, head of the Organising Committee for this week's International Association of Athletics Federations World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, wants to provoke a serious debate about the sport returning to the Olympic programme, as he tells Mike Rowbottom.
Should breakdancing be an Olympic sport?
Vote on this poll
