Other Events | 8 Oct 2014

Table Tennis confirmed in 2020 Paralympic Games

Table Tennis has been confirmed as one of the first 16 sports that will make up the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board made the decision that Table Tennis will again be in the Paralympic Gam

Table Tennis has been confirmed as one of the first 16 sports that will make up the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board made the decision that Table Tennis will again be in the Paralympic Games during their meeting in Berlin, Germany on 7 October 2014.

On the decision, ITTF CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “The ITTF is extremely happy and proud to be among the 16 sports selected in the first round to be on the programme of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. It proves the firm position of Table Tennis since the first Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome. The decision of the IPC Governing Board means that we successfully met the criteria of worldwide participation, athlete classification, anti-doping programme and others. Our integrated para Table Tennis competition programme involves over 3,500 classified players and yearly 20 international tournaments which surely will further increase in the period leading up to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.”

Table Tennis was included in the first Paralympic Games in Rome 1960, and has been included in every edition since, which means that Tokyo 2020 will be the 16th time Table Tennis will be in the Paralympic Games.

Table Tennis was one of the most popular sports at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, with 99% day tickets sold for the event and immense media interest.

The decision to include Table Tennis in the 2020 Paralympic Games comes right after the extremely successful ITTF Para World Table Tennis Championships, which was held last month in Beijing, China.

The event had 3 hours live broadcast on CCTV, which was seen by over 18 million people across China. The event also attracted 1.2 million impressions on Facebook, 153,000 on Twitter and TV news reports on several national TV stations, including BBC in the UK.

Joining Table Tennis in the 16 confirmed sports for the 2020 Paralympic Games are: athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, equestrian, goalball, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held from 25 August – 6 September 2020.