The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is the governing body for the sport of table tennis, overseeing national associations and enforcing regulations. Founded in 1926 by William Henry Lawes, its first members included Austria, Czechoslovakia, England, and Germany. ITTF's headquarters are located in Lausanne, Switzerland, though it also has an Asia-Pacific office in Singapore. Since its creation, the federation has worked to improve the sport’s rules, such as introducing larger balls in 2000 to make the game more spectator-friendly.
ITTF organises key international tournaments, including the World Table Tennis Championships, which have been held annually since 1926. Table tennis also became part of the Summer Olympics in 1988. In 2019, ITTF launched World Table Tennis (WTT), a commercial arm managing major events. ITTF is also responsible for maintaining official rankings, which are updated based on player performances throughout the year.
Membership in the ITTF includes 227 associations, representing countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. The organisation recognises five continental federations to help manage table tennis activities in these regions.
ITTF holds an annual general meeting (AGM) where members discuss changes to the constitution, rules, and membership. The president, executive vice presidents, and other officials are elected during the AGM for a four-year term. The current ITTF president is Petra Sörling, who has been in office since 2021.
In addition to the sport’s governance, ITTF has played an important role in diplomacy. Notable examples include "Ping Pong Diplomacy" between the United States and China in the 1970s and the participation of unified Korean teams in the 1991 and 2018 championships. The ITTF is also known for recognising associations from disputed territories, such as Kosovo in 2003.
The ITTF introduced several rule changes over the years, such as banning speed glue in 2009 to ensure player safety. The eligibility rules for players switching national associations have been clearly outlined, depending on their age. The scoring system was also revised in 2001 to make matches faster-paced.
The ITTF Museum, originally located in Lausanne, was relocated to Shanghai in 2018. It shares space with the China Table Tennis Museum and is managed by the Shanghai University of Sport.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) governs several disciplines within the sport of table tennis, each focusing on different formats and styles of play. These disciplines are categorised based on the type of competition and participants, ensuring the sport's inclusivity and wide participation across all levels.
The membership of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) consists of national associations from various countries and regions around the world. These member associations are responsible for promoting and developing table tennis at the national level, and they work under the governance of the ITTF. Here are the key points about ITTF membership:
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