by Wiebke Scheffler, ITTF Foundation – Head of Operations
A globally recognised sport, World Table Tennis Day (WTTD) 2019 illustrated the fact that the table tennis community, the participating organisations, alongside the ITTF Foundation and our equipment sponsors; iPong and Butterfly, value partnerships that represent diverse goals in the area of development.
World Table Tennis Day underlines the ideal of sport for all. Everyone can take part in organising activities to mark the day, play and spread the message of solidarity with friends and the community.
“My biggest acknowledgments are reserved for each single organiser and participant. It is thanks to your love for our sport that we keep going further, making table tennis accessible to everyone everywhere!“ Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director
As a motivational incentive, the 2019 awards focused on showcasing exemplary and different initiatives, regardless of event size. It is not about the wealth of materials but rather about the love for table tennis and sharing with others.
Europe took the lead in the most registered events at 407 from a previous 288 in 2018; Asia was next with 275 registered events, the number having been 140 in 2018.
A most impressive 115.7 per cent increase in participation when compared with the previous year, World Table Tennis Day is becoming increasingly useful and popular as a platform for positive social change.
Among the 922 events, 527 engaged children, 318 young people and 192 persons with disabilities. Also 228 elderly, 16 refugees and 23 immigrants plus other minority groups participated.
The mantra of the ITTF Foundation – solidarity through table tennis – fund its way into schools, parks, shopping malls, stadiums, beaches and local pathways as well as into streets through dedicated organisers, creative initiatives and amazing participants! Together we are improving the social fabric for the better, with fun, love, laughter and friendship.
We look forward to seeing you on 6th April 2020 – World Table Tennis Day!
World Table Tennis Day Awards 2019
…………Absar Welfare Foundation, Pakistan
…………Arima Table Tennis Club, Trinidad and Tobago
…………JTG School Table Tennis, South Africa
…………PongFit, United States
…………NTK Vesna, Slovenia
…………Latvian Table Tennis Federation, Children and Youth Centre, Latvia
…………Club de Tenis de Mesa UVG, Guatemala
…………Chouigi Sports Club, Tunisia
…………Tonga Table Tennis Federation, Tonga
…………A.D Badajoz Tennis de Mesa, Spain
…………Centro Cívico por la Paz, Costa Rica
…………Fundación Federico, Colombia
…………A.S.D Vigor Velletri, Italy