22 October 2024
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expresses profound disappointment regarding the non-inclusion of Table tennis and Para table tennis in the sports programme announced today by the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Our primary concern lies with the aspiring table tennis players across Commonwealth nations whose dreams of becoming Commonwealth Games Champions have been abruptly halted. The ITTF stands in solidarity with these athletes and commits to exploring alternative playing opportunities for them to showcase their talents.
While we acknowledge the challenges facing Glasgow 2026 and support efforts to create an innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable event model, we find the exclusion of Table tennis and Para table tennis perplexing. Our sport has consistently demonstrated unparalleled adaptability, successfully delivering events across diverse venues and temporary facilities under various inclusive competition formats. We firmly believe our sport was ideally positioned to help the organisers achieve their objectives.
The ITTF maintains that table tennis is not only one of the most cost-effective sports to deliver but also a key driver of revenue and fan engagement. Our sport has the potential to captivate a new generation of supporters in some of the world’s largest, youngest, and most commercially powerful markets, thereby contributing significantly to the long-term success of the Commonwealth Games.
Since our inclusion in 2002, Table tennis and Para table tennis have enriched the Commonwealth Games with iconic players such as India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, England’s Liam Pitchford, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola, and Australia’s Melissa Tapper, all of whom have etched their names in the event’s illustrious history.
The ITTF remains hopeful that these champions will have worthy successors at the 2030 edition, which will mark the centenary of the Commonwealth Games. The ITTF remains committed to working closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the future hosts during the next sport programme selection process, and to demonstrating how table tennis can add significant value to future editions.
You can find the statement issued by Table Tennis Scotland here.