The ITTF is excited to highlight the outstanding sustainability initiatives led by our member associations around the world. These case studies showcase the positive impact that table tennis can have on communities and the environment, and we hope they serve as inspiration for others to adopt and expand similar practices. Together, we can make a lasting difference through the power of our sport.
Swedish Table Tennis Association: Girl Power Festival
The Swedish Table Tennis Association has developed a long-term strategy to foster sustainable growth in women’s table tennis. Every year, their flagship event, the Girl Power Festival brings female players and coaches from all over the country together.
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Costa Rican Table Tennis Federation: Table Tennis for Mental Health
Through a series of strong partnerships with the government and other stakeholders, AETEME, an association affiliated with the Costa Rican Table Tennis Federation launched an initiative which uses table tennis as a tool to enhance cognitive and neurological function, as well as improving mental wellbeing.
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Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation: Alicante’s Green Pong Tournament
The 2024 Alicante Tenis de Mesa Club’s inaugural Green Pong Tournament introduced innovative practices aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of table tennis events, exemplifying RFETM’s commitment towards sustainability.
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Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation: Andalucía 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships
The Andalucía 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships set new standards in sustainability of large-scale table tennis events, leading to the RFETM being awarded the Green Sport Flag Certification.
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Colombian Table Tennis Federation: Plastic Recycling in Risaralda’s Table Tennis League
The Risaralda Table Tennis League’s Plastic Recycling Initiative sought to integrate environmental sustainability practices into table tennis through the promotion of recycling habits and the establishment of partnerships with local organizations.
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French Table Tennis Federation: Ping Planète
In early 2024, the French Table Tennis Federation launched the Ping Planète program, embodying the federation’s commitment to environmental sustainability across all actors in the table tennis community.
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Martin Perry: Table Tennis Planet Ambassador
As one of the inaugural Table Tennis Planet Ambassadors, Martin Perry has risen to prominence not only for his athletic achievements but also for his steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability.
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Adriana Díaz: Table Tennis Planet Ambassador
Appointed as the first female Table Tennis Planet Ambassador, Adriana Díaz exemplifies how athletes can leverage their platforms to promote sustainability and social responsibility.
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Somalia Table Tennis Federation: Ping Pong for Peace
The Somalia Table Tennis Federation, with the support of ITTF Foundation’s Dream Building Fund, launched the Ping Pong for Peace initiative as a way to rebuild communities and create opportunities for the youth in the post-conflict recovery period.
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ITTF & Busan 2024 Local Organizing Committee: ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Busan 2024
The ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in Busan 2024 represented a milestone as the first international table tennis event to receive ISO certification for outstanding sustainability performance in event management.
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ITTF-Oceania: Sustainability, a Pillar of the Strategic Plan 2025-2028
ITTF-Oceania unveiled its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, which set the agenda for the organization over the next four years. The plan, based on the ITTF Strategic Plan, but amended where necessary to ensure its suitability with Oceania’s unique needs and circumstances, includes a focus on managing the organization to the highest standard in a sustainable fashion as one of its main pillars.
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Chinese Table Tennis Association: Combating Parkinson’s Disease
In April 2024, the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), in partnership with the Shanghai Table Tennis Association and other organisations, launched the Table Tennis for Health: Combating Parkinson’s Disease initiative. This program includes a series of events designed to support individuals living with Parkinson’s and features a dedicated forum to explore how table tennis can improve their quality of life. By promoting the sport’s therapeutic benefits, the initiative seeks to enhance physical well-being, while also advancing the integration of sports and medicine in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
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Chinese Table Tennis Association: Ping Pong in the Park
Launched in August 2023 by China’s General Administration of Sports, the Ping Pong in the Park initiative aims to enhance national fitness by installing small-scale sports facilities, including table tennis tables, in communities and parks. Designed to revitalize scenic areas and boost the economic impact of sports activities, the Chinese Table Tennis Association has aligned with these efforts by organizing a series of events to promote health. These events feature outdoor table tennis competitions in parks, encouraging community engagement, increasing public participation, and promoting overall health.
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Tonga Table Tennis Federation: Smash Down Barriers
With support from the ITTF Foundation’s Dream Building Fund 2020, the Tonga Table Tennis Federation (TTTF) launched the Smash Down Barriers initiative to promote social inclusion for people with disabilities in remote villages and outer islands of Tonga. Through table tennis, the TTTF works with people with disabilities to empower them and build their confidence. The initiative seeks to change the heavily engrained cultural perceptions of people with disability by community members, and the perceptions they have of themselves.
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Botswana Table Tennis Association: Africa Youth Championships Legacy Project
In September 2024, the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) officially handed over the legacy project “Advancing Sustainability,” launched during the Africa Youth Championships. The initiative aimed to revitalize an abandoned orchard part of a table tennis centre for grassroot development that had been unused for over 11 years. With support from the ITTF Foundation and the African Youth Championship partner, the project turned a neglected area into a positive space for the community, aligning with BTTA’s sustainability goals and inspiring a lasting impact.
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Hellenic Table Tennis Federation: National Recycled Table Tennis Balls Initiative
In 2020, a pilot initiative called B.L.E.S.S. (Breath, Life, Evolution, Sports, Start) was launched to tackle a surprising environmental issue: the waste from broken table tennis balls, which contributes over 216 tons of plastic pollution each year. Founded by concerned athletes, the Mediterra Institute partnered with table tennis clubs across Greece and Cyprus to collect and recycle these damaged balls, transforming them into practical items like trophies and medals. Supported by the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation, the initiative expanded further by planting three olive trees for every three bags of balls collected, promoting reforestation while reducing plastic waste.
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