The ITTF Executive Board met virtually on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, under the leadership of Petra Sörling, to review the Federation’s progress across several strategic areas. The session began with a positive financial report and provided an opportunity to assess developments over recent months, from growing digital audiences to continental development initiatives, work with athletes and the evolution of the international circuit.
One of the figures that best reflects this period is the growth of the Federation’s digital presence. The ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals and the ITTF World Cup performed strongly in communications, while the London Centenary Championships reached 76 million views across the organization’s digital platforms. This result contributed to a 33.6% increase in ITTF’s combined social media audience since February, at a time when expanding the digital community has become increasingly important to bringing table tennis to new audiences.
The ITTF strengthens development and its relationship with athletes
The Federation’s growth is also taking place beyond major competitions and its digital platforms. During the meeting, investments made across the continents were reviewed, including initiatives such as the Equipment Assistance Programme, training partnerships and projects supported through Olympic Solidarity to assist national federations. This is complemented by the continued development of regional championships, which serve as important platforms for expanding competitive opportunities and strengthening table tennis structures in each territory.
The players’ voice also played an important role during the meeting. The Athletes’ Commission presented its report through its co-chairs, Paul Drinkhall and Liu Shiwen, who highlighted the work of representatives actively engaged with the athlete community. The aim is for the experience of those competing to have a meaningful presence in the Federation’s decision-making processes, giving greater weight to athletes’ needs and perspectives when planning the future of international table tennis.
WTT moves toward a new commercial phase
The Executive Board also received an update on the full calendar of world title events taking place through the end of the year, as well as preparations for Astana 2027. Meanwhile, the Member Associations Department confirmed that its preparations remain on track. As part of the broader review, World Table Tennis (WTT) received a dedicated update from its interim management team on the various initiatives currently underway.
Recent highlights included the continued success of the US Smash 2026 and performances at WTT Champions Yokohama and Europe Smash – Sweden 2026, both of which concluded earlier in August. At the same time, WTT’s ongoing business review is designed to prepare the organization for a new phase, with particular focus on commercial management, stabilizing revenue streams and implementing targeted strategic adjustments. The operational objective is to consolidate the foundations of the business and sustain its growth over the coming years.
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