On the eve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, France and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) initiated an unprecedented movement to accelerate the contribution of sport to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Invited by French President Emmanuel Macron and IOC President Thomas Bach, the summit brought together 500 participants, including heads of state and government, heads of international organizations and public banks, members of the Olympic Movement, socially committed athletes, representatives of civil society, and young citizens.
This groundbreaking summit led to the announcement of the Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development, featuring ambitious and measurable political, financial, and sporting commitments.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expresses its enthusiasm for the outcomes of the summit and welcomes the initiative. ITTF remains dedicated to its ongoing efforts in promoting a more sustainable sport, embracing a definition of sustainability that encompasses people, planet, and prosperity.
ITTF President Petra Sörling, who attended the summit, voiced her support: “This was an inspiring moment, and I welcome the Paris Agreement. Seeing sustainability, one of the key pillars of my tenure, reflected in this initiative is very encouraging. The work we have been doing within the Federation and through the ITTF Foundation aligns fully with the 10 commitments. We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with the Olympic family to ensure that our actions benefit sport, youth and sustainable development.”
The Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development, endorsed by the Olympic Movement, consists of 10 commitments across five main priorities:
1- Education and employment
2- Health and nutrition
3- Equality and inclusion
4- Financing and impact measurement
5- Sustainability and legacy
At the core of our vision is to make table tennis accessible to everyone, for life and for generations to come. Achieving this involves ensuring that the ITTF and its stakeholders meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do so. This balance involves not only environmental factors but also social and economic ones, aiming to create a healthy, equitable, and prosperous society within and through the table tennis community.