ITTF President, Petra Sörling, completed a 10-day official visit to the Americas, to work on key activities for the development of the sport in the continent.
The visit combined grassroots events, engagement with the table tennis community, and high-level meetings with key sporting authorities in the region.
Invited by the ITTF-Americas Executive Board, President Sörling attended the ITTF-Americas 2025 General Assembly, which was held in Antigua, Guatemala, on Saturday 6 September 2025.
President Sörling addressed the delegates of the Member Associations present, congratulating Mr Juan Vila, ITTF-Americas President, and its Executive Board for the smooth running of the AGM. The delegates noted an ITTF presentation on Sustainability and ITTF Foundation initiatives, and the host cities for the 2026 ITTF-Americas events were decided.
In 2025, the ITTF Americas General Assembly took part during the Pan American U-11 and U-13 Championships, where the continent’s youngest talents displayed their passion and skill. President Sörling praised this decision of the ITTF Americas, which “allowed the delegates of the Member Associations to witness and support the table tennis future stars”.
Taking the opportunity to the visit to Guatemala, ITTF President was received on 4 September in Guatemala City by Mr Gerardo Aguirre, President of the Guatemala NOC, and Ms. Claudia Rivera, Member of the Guatemala NOC. Later, on 5 September, the Major of Antigua, Guatemala, Mr Juan Manuel Asturias, welcomed President Sörling to the Antigua City Hall.
President Sörling was also invited to the Executive Board Meeting of the ITTF Americas, held on 5 September, and had the opportunity to interact with several Member Associations Presidents and Delegates.
Following the events in Guatemala, President Sörling continued her visit to the Americas with an official visit to the Dominican Republic.
Mr Luis Mejia, President of Centro Caribe Sports and IOC Member, received the ITTF and ITTF-Americas delegation on 9 September, with discussions about the ITTF-Americas Academy, which aims to open in 2026 in the facilities of Parque del Este, built for the 2003 Pan American Games, and that are undergoing renovation for Central American and Caribbean Games 2026. President Sörling and Mr Mejia explored also potential collaborations of both institutions, which in 2026 will celebrate their respective centenaries.
Mr Garibaldi Bautista, President of the Dominican Republic NOC, also received President Sörling at the Dominican Republic NOC premises on the same day. The concept of the ITTF-Americas Academy was further discussed together with Mr. Gary Hernandez, President of the Dominican Republic Table Tennis Federation and NOC Executive Board Member.
On 10 September, Jose P. Monegro, President of the Organising Committee for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026, received President Sörling. Discussions were held around the renovations being made in the Table Tennis venue of Parque del Este which will not only get ready the facilities for the 2026 edition of the Games, but furthermore, for the kick off of the Table Tennis Academy.
The visit was completed with a visit to Honourable Mr Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sports and Recreation of the Dominican Republic. The meeting abounded on the key aspect of the renovation of the infrastructure of Parque del Este Table Tennis venue to ensure it is fit for purpose for hosting the ITTF-Americas Academy.
Honourable Mr Majin Diaz, Minister of Finance of the Dominican Republic, also greeted President Sörling, and discussed about table tennis, a sport he still practises today.
Private sector key figures, as Mr Felipe Vicini, CRESO President, and Ramon Hipolito Mejia, also met with the ITTF President, completing a very fruitful visit to the continent.
The visit underlined ITTF’s continued dedication to keeping table tennis ahead across all regions of the world, combining event delivery, institutional cooperation, and youth development as pillars of growth.