Following today’s historic handover ceremony at Olympic House in Lausanne, where Thomas Bach officially passed the IOC presidency to Kirsty Coventry, the table tennis world reflects on an extraordinary era of growth whilst looking ahead to new possibilities under the sport’s first female Olympic leader.
The ceremony marked the end of Bach’s transformative 12-year tenure and the beginning of Coventry’s groundbreaking presidency as the first woman and first African to lead the Olympic Movement.
Bach’s Table Tennis Revolution
Bach’s presidency delivered unprecedented achievements for table tennis, expanding the sport from four to six Olympic medal events – a remarkable 50% increase that stands as testimony to his confidence in the discipline’s Olympic value.
The breakthrough began with Mixed Doubles at Tokyo 2020, following Bach’s personal involvement during the 2017 World Championships in Düsseldorf. His hands-on approach and swift decision-making paved the way for the Mixed Team event at Los Angeles 2028, making table tennis the only racket sport to receive Olympic programme expansion during his tenure.
“We took this decision for only one racket sport: table tennis,” Bach revealed at the recent ITTF Summit 2025, highlighting the sport’s unique position in Olympic planning.
Bach’s Olympic Agenda 2020 philosophy of “change or be changed” found perfect expression in table tennis. At the ITTF Summit, he praised the sport’s comprehensive transformation: “I must say we were and are really impressed with how the table tennis family embraced, addressed and drove this change.”
The results were tangible, with broadcasting and digital media figures going “through the roof” at Paris 2024, demonstrating table tennis’s growing global appeal under Bach’s stewardship.
Coventry’s Olympic Pedigree
Kirsty Coventry brings formidable sporting credentials to the presidency, having claimed seven Olympic medals for Zimbabwe between 2004 and 2016. As a swimmer who dominated backstroke and individual medley events, she understands the dedication required for Olympic excellence – experience that resonates with table tennis athletes worldwide.
Her appointment represents a watershed moment for Olympic leadership, embodying the inclusivity and diversity that modern Olympic sport champions. Coventry’s vision emphasises ensuring athletes from all nations have equal opportunities to participate and excel – values that align seamlessly with table tennis’s mission as a truly global sport.
“We look forward to continuing our close partnership with the IOC, further developing table tennis on the Olympic stage and contributing to the future success of the Games,” ITTF President Petra Sörling stated following Coventry’s election.
Table Tennis’s Bright Future
Bach ensured continuity for table tennis’s trajectory during his address at the ITTF Summit: “I can speak for my successor, president-elect Kirsty Coventry, since she has been elected because she’s exactly committed to all these values. You can be very confident that you will have with her a great and true friend and supporter.”
Her background as an athlete who represented a developing nation on the world’s biggest stage provides unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing global table tennis development. The sport enters Coventry’s era with unprecedented Olympic standing – six medal events, innovative mixed formats promoting gender equality, and recognition as a leader in embracing technological advancement and competition format evolution.
As Bach transitions to Honorary President, his parting challenge to “drive table tennis to new heights” now passes to Coventry’s capable hands. The foundation built during his tenure provides the new president with a sport that exemplifies Olympic values whilst continuously pushing boundaries.
With Coventry’s commitment to inclusivity and Bach’s legacy of innovation, table tennis is positioned to thrive in this new chapter of Olympic leadership, building on 12 years of unprecedented growth toward an even brighter future on the world’s greatest sporting stage.