International Table Tennis Federation

The ITTF was founded in 12 December 1926{{Cite web |date=15 December 2020 |title=ETTU congratulates ITTF on 94th anniversary |url=https://www.ettu.org/en-n-news-2020-december-ettu-congratulates-ittf-on-94th-anniversary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211221711/https://www.ettu.org/en-n-news-2020-december-ettu-congratulates-ittf-on-94th-anniversary/ |archive-date=11 December 2024 |website=ETTU}} by William Henry Lawes from Wymondham, the nine founding members being Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, British India, Sweden, and Wales.{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/museum/archives/index.html |title=ITTF Archives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301103409/http://www.ittf.com/museum/archives/index.html |archive-date=1 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }} The first international tournament was held in January 1926 in Berlin, while the first World Table Tennis Championships was held in December 1926 in London.

Toward the end of 2000, the ITTF instituted several rules changes aimed at making table tennis more viable as a televised spectator sport. The older 38 mm balls were officially replaced by 40 mm balls.{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story2.asp?id=13118&category=menus |title=ITTF Table Tennis Timeline |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710213034/http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story2.asp?id=13118&category=menus |archive-date=10 July 2009 |df=dmy-all }} This increased the ball's air resistance, and effectively slowed down the game. In 2003, the ITTF moved its headquarters from Hastings to Lausanne and set the ITTF Museum there.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TTC56.pdf|title=The Table Tennis Collector No. 56|page=2|website=ITTF|date=2010|access-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322190139/https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TTC56.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2013-05/17/content_16507335.htm|title=ITTF museum to be moved to China from Switzerland|agency=Xinhua|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|date=17 May 2013|access-date=5 October 2022}}

In 2007, the governance for para table tennis was transferred from the International Paralympic Committee to the ITTF.{{Cite web|title=The ITTF Classification Code|url=http://www.ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf |publisher=ITTF |access-date=6 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910233215/http://www.ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf|archive-date=10 September 2012|url-status=live}} In February 2008, the ITTF announced several rules changes after an ITTF Executive Meeting in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China with regards to a player's eligibility to play for a new association. The new ruling was to encourage associations to develop their own players.{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/World_Events/press_release.asp?ID=14865&PT_Title=&s_Year=& |title=New Rule in Favour of the Development of Table Tennis |publisher=Ittf.com |access-date=2012-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312221243/http://www.ittf.com/World_Events/press_release.asp?ID=14865&PT_Title=&s_Year=& |archive-date=12 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2019, the ITTF created its subsidiary World Table Tennis (WTT) to manage all its commercial and events business.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/2021/01/23/world-table-tennis-established-good-governance/|title=World Table Tennis established with good governance|website=ittf.com|date=23 January 2021|access-date=29 September 2022}} The ITTF's current headquarters are located in Lausanne while their Asia-Pacific office is based in Singapore and search for a new site for headquarters is in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1075740/ittf-invite-cities-to-bid-to-house-new-headquarters-and-international-training-centre|title=ITTF invite cities to bid to house new headquarters and international training centre|website=insidethegames.biz|date=19 February 2019|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1089147/ittf-new-headquarters-28-cities-interest|title=Twenty-eight cities declare interest in being home to ITTF headquarters|website=insidethegames.biz|date=15 January 2020|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/ittf-resumes-search-for-new-headquarters-will-name-inaugural-summit-host-next-month/|title=ITTF resumes search for new headquarters, will name inaugural summit host next month|website=sportbusiness.com|date=28 July 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}} The current president is Petra Sörling from Sweden. Sörling became the eighth person to hold the office in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/weikert-becomes-new-ittf-president|title=Weikert becomes new ITTF President|website=paralympic.org|date=24 September 2014|access-date=29 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/2021/11/24/petra-sorling-elected-ittf-president-unopposed/|title=Petra Sörling elected ITTF President unopposed|website=ittf.com|date=25 November 2021|access-date=30 September 2022}}

{{further|Category:National members of the International Table Tennis Federation}}

The ITTF recognises five continental federations.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/handbook/|title=ITTF Handbook|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022|quote=1.3.1.1 There shall be five Continental Federations, one each from the geographical regions of Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/hpd/continental-reports/|title=Continental Reports|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://americas.ittf.com/pages/8/about_home|title=History – ITTF Americas|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022}} There are currently 227 member associations within the ITTF.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/2022/03/01/welcome-falkland-islands-227th-member/|title=Welcome the Falkland Islands, 227th member|website=ittf.com|date=1 March 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://directory.ittf.com/#/home|title=ITTF Directory |access-date=30 September 2022}}

All member associations of the ITTF attend annual general meeting (AGM).{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ITTF_org_chart_2022.pdf|title=ITTF Organisational Structure|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022}} Agendas on changes of the constitution, laws of table tennis, applications for membership etc. are discussed and finalised through votes. Also, the president of ITTF, 8 executive vice-presidents, and 32 or less continental representatives are elected at an AGM, serving for a four-year term. The president, executive vice-presidents, and the chairman of the athletes' commission compose executive committee.

The executive committee, continental representatives and presidents of the five continental federations or their appointees compose the board of directors (Board). The Board manages the work of the ITTF between AGMs. Several committees, commissions, working groups or panels work under the constitution of ITTF or under the Board.

Unlike the organisations for more popular sports, the ITTF tends to recognise teams from generally unrecognised governing bodies for disputed territory. For example, it recognised the Table Tennis Federation of Kosovo in 2003 even though Kosovo was excluded from most other sports.{{cite web|url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story2.asp?ID=4080&Category|title=New members of the ITTF|website=ittf.com|date=21 May 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507045236/http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story2.asp?ID=4080&Category|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newkosovareport.com/2007101439/Culture-and-Sports/Kosovar-athletes-stage-Olympic-Protest.html |title=Kosovar athletes stage Olympic Protest |date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207023952/http://www.newkosovareport.com/2007101439/Culture-and-Sports/Kosovar-athletes-stage-Olympic-Protest.html |archive-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead}} It recognised the People's Republic of China in 1953 and allowed some basic diplomacy{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/museum/archives/index.html |title=ITTF Archives: 1953 Bucarest AGM Minutes |date=1953-03-23 |publisher=ITTF |page=2 |access-date=2010-07-17 |quote=Only the People's Republic of China Table Tennis Association was taken at this stage, in order to regularise their playing in the Championships and attending Congress. The Meeting confirmed the Advisory Committee's action in accepting the application. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301103409/http://www.ittf.com/museum/archives/index.html |archive-date=1 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }} which lead to an opening for U.S. President Richard Nixon, called "Ping Pong Diplomacy", in the early 1970s.

The ITTF also approved unified Korean team to compete at the World Table Tennis Championships in 1991 and 2018.{{cite web|url=https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?lang=e&menu_cate=history&id=&board_seq=275287&page=3&board_code=koreamoment|title=Inter-Korean Joint Team at 1991 World Table Tennis Championships|website=KBS|date=19 April 2018|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/04/sport/korea-ping-pong-diplomacy-table-tennis-world-championships/index.html|title=North and South Korea teams unite at table tennis world championships|work=CNN|date=4 May 2018|access-date=30 September 2022}}

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ITTF banned Russian and Belarusian players and officials from its competitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1119975/fil-bans-russia-from-events|title=FIL joins list of International Federations to ban Russia from events|date=2 March 2022|website=www.insidethegames.biz}} But this reaction has slowed down in 30 March 2023, stated that Russian and Belarusian players will be re-allowed to participate ITTF and WTT competitions under strict conditions of neutrality, with government or state officials, and national symbols such as flags and anthems of both countries to continue being banned in ITTF-sanctioned events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/2023/03/30/ittf-statement-participation-players-russian-belarusian-passport/|title=ITTF Statement on the Participation of Players with a Russian or Belarusian Passport|date=30 March 2023|website=www.ittf.com|access-date=9 April 2023}}

For ITTF world title events, a player is eligible to play for his association by registering with the ITTF. If the player chooses to play for a new association, he shall register with the ITTF, through the new association.{{cite web|url=https://documents.ittf.sport/sites/default/files/public/2022-02/ITTF_HB_2022_clean_v1_0.pdf|title=ITTF Handbook 2022|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022}} The player will be eligible to play for the new association after three, five, seven years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 15, 18, 21 respectively. The player will be eligible to play for the new association after nine years if the player is at least 21 years old.

The table tennis point system was reduced from a 21 to an 11-point scoring system in 2001. A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. This was intended to make games more fast-paced and exciting. The ITTF also changed the rules on service to prevent a player from hiding the ball during service,{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/museum/ColinEvolution.pdf |title=Rules Evolution |access-date=2010-07-27 |author=Colin Clemett |format=PDF |publisher=ITTF |page=9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331202309/http://www.ittf.com/museum/ColinEvolution.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }} in order to increase the average length of rallies and to reduce the server's advantage. Today, the game changes from time to time mainly to improve on the excitement for television viewers.

{{See also|Speed glue}}

In 2007, ITTF's board of directors in Zagreb decided to implement the VOC-free glue rule at Junior events, starting from 1 January 2008, as a transitional period before the full implementation of the VOC ban on 1 September 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/ittf_misc/Racket_Control_2009__.pdf |title=Official Message to Table Tennis Manufacturers And National Associations |date=2008-11-24 |format=PDF |publisher=ITTF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117100926/http://ittf.com/ittf_misc/Racket_Control_2009__.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2009 |df=dmy-all }}

As of 1 January 2009, all speed glue was to have been banned.

{{Main|Major achievements in table tennis by nation}}

File:Table tennis world ranking history (1927-2023).svg

The ITTF and its subsidiary WTT hold international tournaments and the ITTF maintains official world ranking lists based on players' results in tournaments throughout the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/rankings/|title=Rankings|website=ittf.com|access-date=30 September 2022}}

Conventions: MT/WT: men's/women's team; MS/WS: men's/women's singles; MD/WD: men's/women's doubles; XD: mixed doubles

;Major international events

;Junior events

;Para events

;Singles

The ITTF Museum was previously in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the ITTF is based.{{cite web|url=https://www.hnmuseum.com/en/aboutus/world-class-pingpong-museum-showcases-best-sport|title=World-class pingpong museum showcases the best of the sport|website=Hunan Museum|date=30 March 2018|access-date=5 October 2022}} The ITTF decided in 2014 to move the museum to Shanghai, China, which was planning the China Table Tennis Museum around the same time. The new museum was designated in the same building with the China Table Tennis Museum on different floors, managed and operated by Shanghai University of Sport, and officially opened in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MuseumOpeningSpecialEdition.pdf|title=Table Tennis History Journal Special Edition|website=ITTF|date=April 2018|access-date=5 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1063382/legendary-players-attend-shanghai-opening-of-ittf-museum|title=Legendary players attend Shanghai opening of ITTF Museum|website=insidethegames.biz|date=1 April 2018|access-date=5 October 2022}}

• List of international sports federations
• ITTF Hall of Fame
• ITTF Star Awards
• World Table Tennis (ITTF)

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|International Table Tennis Federation}}

• {{Official website|https://www.ittf.com/}}
• [https://ipttc.org/ ITTF Para Table Tennis]
• [https://www.ittf.com/rankings/ Official ITTF World Ranking Table]
• [https://ww.icttf.co icttf.co]

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{{Table tennis}}

{{National Members of the International Table Tennis Federation}}

{{International Sports Federations}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Organisations based in Lausanne

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Category:Organizations established in 1926

table tennis

Category:International sports organisations based in Switzerland