The International Table Tennis Federation and World Table Tennis jointly launched a hub in Los Angeles on Tuesday. This initiative represents a significant step towards tapping into the potential of the Pan-American market and fostering international collaboration in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The center, located in Lake Forest, Orange County, will serve as the home for the ITTF U.S. office, the WTT U.S. office, the WTT global training center, and the World Table Tennis Management Group global headquarters. The facility will support aspiring athletes and the local community, while also providing opportunities for top athletes to prepare for the LA28 Olympic Games.
The launch follows the recent celebration of the three-year countdown to the LA28 Olympics and the success of U.S. Smash 2025 in Las Vegas. The President of ITTF highlighted the growing global interest in table tennis and the importance of the U.S. market. She noted the tremendous enthusiasm for table tennis in the U.S., citing the World Championships in Houston in 2021 and the recent WTT Grand Smash in Las Vegas. The new center is considered a historic milestone.
The relationship between China and the United States through table tennis dates back to Ping-Pong Diplomacy in 1971. In 2021, the World Table Tennis Championships were held in Houston to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that diplomatic breakthrough. China's commitment to the global development of the sport was emphasized, with a focus on strengthening people-to-people exchange through sports, particularly in the lead-up to the LA28 Olympics.
The training hub is designed to aid elite athletes' preparations for LA28 while nurturing the next generation of American talent. In 2025, ITTF Development plans to implement over 30 programs across the Americas, building on the current level of grassroots engagement, which includes six international youth events in the region this year.
The federation's efforts aim to inspire future stars who could follow in the footsteps of leading players from the U.S., Brazil, and Puerto Rico. Last year's World Hopes Week & Challenge in Paraguay exemplified this commitment to youth development. The vice-president of sports for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games welcomed the global collaboration, emphasizing the importance of inspiring young people to participate in table tennis.
Since its Olympic debut in Seoul 1988, table tennis has become one of the Games' most competitive and global sports. The LA28 table tennis program will feature an expanded lineup, including men's and women's singles, the return of men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and a mixed team event, setting a record for the number of Olympic medals awarded in racquet sports.
4 Comments
ZmeeLove
More corporate buzzwords. 'Nurturing the next generation?' Let's see concrete results that truly empower young players.
Loubianka
Great job for ITTF and World Table Tennis on the LA initiative to celebrate their new training center; looking forward to more games.
BuggaBoom
Is there actual evidence that table tennis is a growing sport in the U.S.? Feels like a niche market.
Eugene Alta
They always talk about the 'benefit' to underprivileged youth. Where are the details about supporting vulnerable communities?