The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) continues its pledge to assist the development of its continents by signing a Strategic Commercial Agreement with ITTF-North America.
This new Strategic Commercial Agreement adds to a similar deal signed with ITTF-Oceania last month and will be the framework for future agreements with the rest of ITTF’s continents, with whom the ITTF are already in discussion.
The deal involves the ITTF investing significant financial and human resources into the region to assist its commercial growth, and the popularity of the sport in the region which has an enormous amount of potential for table tennis.
ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: "Due to having great commercial results since we took back the marketing rights at the start of 2017, we are continuing to work with our continental partners to look at how to grow all of our commercial businesses, and at the same time, grow the sport globally. North America is a place that the ITTF has always seen as a big potential growth market, so we are very excited to have this opportunity to work hand in hand with ITTF-North America to make this happen."
ITTF-North America President Tony KIESENHOFER added: "This strategic investment offers ITTF-North America the opportunity to build a sustainable organization that will focus on bringing regular international events to North America, such as regular ITTF World Tour events with qualified staff to implement these events at a professional level."
"Further, the increased capacity resulting from this agreement provides an opportunity for ITTF-North America to found a professional league in North America which, in turn, will inspire and offer professional opportunities to the next generation of North American table tennis athletes."
"Last but not least, the professional structure that will result from this investment allows ITTF-North America to collaborate with its member associations on a successful grassroots development strategy."
"I am thrilled that the current ITTF leadership is investing the funds that the ITTF gained by taking back some commercial rights from TMS in the continents. We understand that such an agreement will be on offer for all continental federations and I encourage my colleagues in other continents to take advantage of this opportunity and bring our sport, Table Tennis, to the highest international level."
ITTF Marketing & Commercial Director Steve DAINTON concluded: "We are all excited about these Strategic Commercial Agreements as they are a perfect way for the ITTF to work closely with our Continental partners to commercialize our sport in all regions. That being said, these agreements are an investment from the ITTF, and we will be expecting a return in the future, so we all need to work hard together to produce the results that we know are possible."
This is a milestone moment in the history for table tennis within North America, that will create opportunities and benefits for both ITTF-North America, ITTF and table tennis in general.
For more information, please contact:
ITTF
Email:media@ittfmail.com
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics iswww.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
