The global table tennis community gathers to celebrate World Table Tennis Day

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is ready and excited to celebrate this year’s World Table Tennis Day on Sunday 23 April, bringing together the world table tennis community under the motto Think sustainably, act now.

World Table Tennis Day is an annual celebration of the sport and its values, encouraging people from around the world to come together and participate in table tennis while celebrating the sport’s diversity and inclusion. Since the beginning of 2015, the focus of World Table Tennis Day has also been on promoting important values. The ITTF Foundation decided on sustainable development as this year’s official theme and uses World Table Tennis Day as a tool to emphasize the need to address environmental issues and promote sustainable practices.

To celebrate the occasion, member associations, organizations, clubs and table tennis enthusiasts around the world organize events, tournaments, exhibitions, challenges and open door sessions that inspire everyone to play the sport. With over 400 registered celebrations in over 100 countries and territories, this day exemplifies the power of table tennis to bring people together.

“We are thrilled to see so many people and organizations around the world commit to supporting World Table Tennis Day and planning the celebrations on 23 April. It’s a day that captures the joy of playing table tennis for fun, bringing people together, focusing less on competition and more on participation and enjoyment while showing how table tennis is a force for good in the world. This is a sign of strength. our sport unites people and promotes positive change. This year’s World Table Tennis Day theme builds on the ITTF’s continued commitment to making sustainability a central part of the sport and encourages table tennis players and fans around the world to adopt sustainable practices both on and off the table. .” — Petra Srling, President of the ITTF

The ITTF Foundation also works with all five continental confederations to organize events that focus on sustainability for people, planet and prosperity through sport.

• African Table Tennis Federation Table tennis for all event in Egypt
• Asian Table Tennis Federation Social Integration and Energy Saving Event in Qatar
• The European Table Tennis Association is working towards sustainable development at the under-21 European Championships in Bosnia
• ITTF-Oceania Smash Down Barriers to reduce social inequality in Tonga
• ITTF-Americas “Table Tennis for Sustainable Health and Environment”, in Argentina

Leandro Olvech, Director of the ITTF Foundation, added: “Through the far-reaching power of table tennis worldwide, we can promote and contribute to important social issues. This year’s focus on sustainability also reminds us that we all have a role to play when it comes to environmental factors, including safeguarding the legacy of sport and the power of people in utilization to create a healthy, fair and prosperous society.”

As part of the celebration, an entertaining 24-hour livestream program featuring exciting table tennis matches, exclusive interview sessions with star players, training challenges, panel discussions and highlights from events around the world will be available, and viewers can already register to watch the entire match. programhere.

One of the events celebrating World Table Tennis Day is a table organized by the ITTF Group and the Macau Sports Bureau, where a table will be set up outside Macau’s iconic St Paul’s Ruins. The event will also feature the Macau youth team, para-table tennis players and Special Olympics players, highlighting that inclusivity is a key factor in sustainable development as it ensures that all people, regardless of background, have equal access to opportunities. With the presence of ITTF President Petra Srling, ITTF Vice President Liu Guoliang, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton and star table tennis players, it is expected to attract a large crowd to celebrate this historic day and promises to be a truly special experience. fans in Macau before witnessing the end of the contractWTT Champions Macau 2023the men’s and women’s singles finals start at 18:00 local time.

World Table Tennis Day is celebrated for the first time on April 23. This new date is significant in the federation’s long history as it is the birthday of Ivor Montagu, organizer of the first World Table Tennis Championships in 1926 and founder and first president of the ITTF. This change comes as the ITTF prepares for its 100th anniversary. The ITTF is extremely proud of its history and is looking for ways to showcase it more while continuing its mission to grow the game worldwide.

The ITTF looks forward to different communities from around the world coming together to play table tennis and spread the message of unity and togetherness while promoting sustainability and inclusion.

For more information and a complete list of activation events around the world,visit the ITTF Foundation website here. You can find pictures of the events atITTF Flickr account.