In a further step towards sustainably leveraging sports for social good, the Yunus Sports Hub (YSH) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), including the ITTF Foundation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This MoU marks the beginning of a partnership focused on harnessing the power of table tennis to address societal challenges. By combining the Yunus Sports Hub’s expertise in social business with ITTF’s extensive network and experience in sports, the collaboration aims to create sustainable and impactful programs that promote health, education, and social inclusion. This collaboration also aims to utilize the global reach and influence of table tennis to drive social impact and foster community development.
“We are thrilled to partner with the International Table Tennis Federation,” said Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Peace Nobel Laureate, 2020 Olympic Laurel and co-founder of Yunus Sports Hub. “This MoU embodies our shared vision of using sports and social business to make a meaningful change in people’s life. Together, we can reach more communities and inspire action towards a world of 3 zeros: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emission.”
The Yunus Sports Hub, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, is renowned for its commitment to social business and innovation in sustainability on all three fronts: people, planet and prosperity. The International Table Tennis Federation, the governing body for all international table tennis associations, is dedicated to promoting the sport worldwide and fostering inclusivity and taking steps to doing this more sustainably together with its Foundation focusing on the people side of sustainability.
Petra Sörling, President of the ITTF, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “The ITTF is committed to making table tennis a sport for all, for life and future generations. This collaboration with Yunus Sports Hub will enable us to expand our impact and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with a social business approach. We look forward to working together to create meaningful and lasting change. It was a true pleasure to meet Professor Yunus in person and take this significant step together.”
The MoU focuses on environmental sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and educational support and includes concreate areas of work such as, social procurement and zero waste solutions. These initiatives aim to empower individuals and communities through the inclusive and accessible sport of table tennis and develop some more sustainable solutions for table tennis major events and initiatives.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in the journey towards leveraging sports for sustainable development. By uniting their strengths, the Yunus Sports Hub and the International Table Tennis Federation are poised to make a profound impact on communities worldwide.
About the Yunus Sports Hub The Yunus Sports Hub is a global initiative focused on using the power of sport to address social issues and promote sustainable development. Founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus, the YSH aims to create a world where sports can contribute to social, economic, and environmental progress.
About the International Table Tennis Federation The International Table Tennis Federation is the global governing body for the sport of table tennis. With a mission to make table tennis accessible to everyone, the ITTF organizes international competitions, promotes the sport at all levels, and works to develop the game worldwide.
About the International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTF Foundation), founded in 2018, was created by the International Table Tennis Federation as an independent global nonprofit organisation, operating in the space of Sport for Development (S4D). The ITTF Foundation uses the characteristics of table tennis to create positive change through the sport; attracting more people to play, while working with them on different topics linked with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, to improve their daily life.