17 Oct 2018

Celebrated in no less than 97 countries, 579 registered events, over 94,000 participants, focused on Friday 6th April, World Table Tennis 2018 proved once again a huge success.

Notably this year the day was marked by “Solidarity through Table Tennis”; the sport being used as a tool to promote peace in conflict areas, to break down social barriers, to entertain children to give both young people and adults a meaningful activity.

Romina Concha Sepulveda, ITTF Foundation Consultant

In addition, “every time, everywhere” became more real than ever. Table tennis took over schools, universities, hospitals, shopping malls, streets, beaches, parks, rural areas and even the high seas. Non-governmental organisations played an important role taking the sport to different places and making it accessible for everyone.

There was no a better way to show how powerful table tennis can be through popularity, universality and inclusivity. World Table Tennis Day broke all records; we have no doubt that more people and countries will join the celebration in 2019.

 

Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director, highlighted the spirit of solidarity and congratulated everyone who made this year World Table Tennis Day a success.

“My biggest congratulations are reserved for each single organiser and participant. It’s thanks to your love for our sport that we develop and make table tennis accessible to everyone everywhere!” Leandro Olvech

We are looking forward to see even more initiatives in 2019, more people, more countries, more locations!

World Table Tennis Day 2018: The full report

World Table Tennis Day 2018: Photo Gallery

Awards: World Table Tennis Day 2018

Winner:
Butterfly Equipment Package:
● Let’s play ping poooooong

iPong Robots for two most popular events:
● Table Tennis for All in Bugesera / Rilima, Rwanda
● Celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan

iPong Robots for two most universal events:
● Table Tennis in my School in El Aroussa, Tunisia
● Every time, everywhere and for everyone, table tennis in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

iPong Robots for two most inclusive events:
● Bahía Blanca live table tennis in Bahía Blanca, Argentina
● PSF tournament and solidarity in Gouvieux, France

iPong Robots for two most creative events:
● Paradise of Ping Pong in Tahiti, French Polynesia
● For all in Kastamonu, Turkey

iPong Kit and four packs of balls for the two Most “Popular, Universal & Inclusive” events at once:
● Jugamos donde queremos (We play where we want to) in Santa Marta, Colombia
● Brighton Table Tennis Club celebrates in England

ITTF Foundation World Table Tennis Day 2018 World Table Tennis Day Leandro Olvech