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Tennis brings West and East together (Part 1)
by Zbigniew Chmielewski and Thomas Vaszary
Enrico Crespi did not play tennis himself but he was the man who became the godfather of the Journalists’ World Championships. As President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) he frequently put forward ideas for social events, believing that there was nothing better than sport to bring people together. At an AIPS congress he asked journalists to come to a tennis tournament in Italy in 1977. One year later in Venice the World Championships was born, with small teams from the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Ireland and Italy. One evening a handful of journalists met in a cosy coffee corner and decided to establish the International Association of Journalist Tennis Players (AITJ). It has become so successful because of the extraordinary atmosphere in Venice, the hospitality of the Minazzi brothers and Elio Marsano, who made us feel like one family.
First World Championships in Venice 1978: … (?), Antonio Ardizzone (Winner Mens Open),
… Morello and Elio Marsano, 1st President of AITJ.
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Marsano, journalist of the Milan newspaper «I sole 24 ore», was a great showman on court. At times he behaved like John McEnroe. But in the dressing room, when he had calmed down and he was feeling repentant, he would apologise for his behaviour. He would say: «Sempre amici – we will always be friends.» In private Marsano was a good humoured and charming man. However, when necessary, he could be a determined and talented organiser. Under his presidency a complicated debate began about membership of the AITJ. Who had the right to participate in tournaments? The debate lasted a long time. In 1979 the statutes of the AITJ and the regulations for tournaments were decided. It was admirable the way Marsano solved this problem: 30 Italian members were excluded from the tournament, because they had lost their connection to the journalist’s trade. That's how the AITJ has survived till today.
Leo Lohberger, an Austrian, took over in 1983. He was quite different from his predecessor – dignified, and always perfect in his manner and behaviour on the tennis court. However, Marsano and Lohberger had one common feature – a great friendliness with people. Both presented a similar way of thinking, believing that sport should be apolitical and bring people together. Shortly afterwards the Soviet team began to take part in the World Championships, followed by teams from Chile and Zaire.
Leo Lohberger, Austria (left), 2nd President of AITJ, with Elio Marsano, Italy, 1st President of AITJ.
… backwards…foreward
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