All eyes will be on the city of Chengdu from 30 September – in exactly one month – when the 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals commence. The world’s strongest teams will face off until 9 October to win one of the sport’s most coveted titles.
On this occasion, the slogan “Celebrate Table Tennis with Chengdu” was revealed. It emphasises the city’s love for this sport and the willingness of the ITTF to engage with its host during this unprecedented event.
The 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals – the only international event in China this year after the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games – is a tour de force.
ITTF President Petra Sorling commented:
“The world’s best players will arrive in Chengdu in just a month. What a journey it has been! China will have hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games Beijing 2022 and the World Table Tennis Championships this year. This makes the ITTF and the entire table tennis family incredibly proud.
“These World Team Championships are even more significant than ever. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been four years since they were last held.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the staff in Chengdu, in the CTTA, and in the ITTF for their dedication to overcoming challenges and hard work. I also would like to thank the players and our Member Associations for their support during this journey. Let us continue our efforts until the champions are crowned.”
Also unveiled to celebrate the ‘one month to go’ milestone, the design of the medals integrates the shape of a panda, the city’s icon, with the traditional jade pendant coupled with the silhouette of a table tennis racket. Altogether, it is a collective symbol of prosperity and auspiciousness.
The ITTF, the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the City of Chengdu authorities will continue to collaborate to deliver an event where players compete in the best and safest conditions.
A “closed-loop” management system, inspired by the one successfully experimented during the Beijing Games, will be implemented and will welcome more than 1,000 participants. Special flights have been chartered, and participants will be able to enter and leave Chengdu with no quarantine.
Liu Guoliang, ITTF Executive Vice President, WTT Council Chair and Board Member, and CTTA President, commented:
“There is only one month until the opening of the Chengdu 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals. The preparations are going well and steady, and the fans’ expectations for this event are growing stronger every single day. With the arrival of the world’s best players, table tennis will take over the ancient city of Chengdu.”
The new Chengdu High-tech Sports Centre – a modern, comprehensive, multi-functional, premium and large-scale gymnasium built last year – will be the venue for the competition. While this is the sixth World Table Tennis Championships staged in China, it is the first time Chengdu is the host city.
To ensure seamless cooperation until the end of the countdown, the ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton will arrive in Chengdu in early September to fine-tune the last details.
Dainton commented:
“The last month is always crucial for an event like a World Championships. The athletes, their entourage, and the officials are preparing for their trip and we are therefore preparing for their comfort, safe passage and well being as well as we can so to ensure the athletes can compete at their best in Chengdu. Being on-site will help smooth our collaboration and communications with all involved parties. I believe these World Championships will be truly unforgettable for everyone.”
