The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Portuguese Table Tennis Association (Federação Portuguesa De Ténis De Mesa – FPTM) confirm that the 2020 ITTF World Junior Championships will not be taking place in order to best protect athletes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Portugal had been set to stage this year’s ITTF World Junior Championships between 29 November – 6 December 2020 in Guimarães. Following meetings held between FPTM and the ITTF Competition department the ITTF Executive Committee (EC) was informed and after deliberation in agreement with FPTM the EC has decided:
1. To cancel the 2020 ITTF World Junior Table Tennis Championships to best protect the health and safety of the athletes.
2. To recommend to the Board of Directors (BoD) that Portugal become the first host of the newly branded ITTF World Youth Championships which is being proposed for launch in 2021. The introduction of the new format is pending approval from the BoD who will receive the proposition from the EC on 19 November 2020.
3. To propose to the BoD to allocate the 2022 ITTF World Youth Championships to Tunisia which had originally been the designated host country for the 2021 edition.
The ITTF places on record its sincere thanks for the complete understanding and cooperation demonstrated by both Member Associations in light of the proposed changes especially Tunisia who have agreed in principle (pending approval by the BoD) to staging the ITTF World Youth Championships in 2022 in order to accommodate Portugal for 2021.
The ITTF will provide a further update following the decision of the BoD on 19 November 2020.
Meanwhile the revised Youth Events structure will be announced shortly.
