World Table Tennis for Health Festival 2025

1. Purpose & Context
The ITTF Foundation’s “TT4Health” programme is dedicated to promoting the physical, social and mental health benefits of table tennis. ittffoundation.org The 2025 Festival builds on this mandate by bringing together participants living with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's, promoting inclusion, social interaction, and active lives.

2. Preparations & Recent Activities

• The congress agenda for WTT4HF 2025 has been launched by the Foundation (see website). ittffoundation.org

• As part of preparation and inspiration, our delegation travelled to China to observe the national Parkinson’s table tennis championships — a powerful example of sport, inclusion and resilience.

• With just two weeks to go until the Festival, final logistics, participant outreach and event coordination are in full swing.

3. Participant Voices & Impact
We asked participants from previous years to reflect on their experience:

From Steve Loble, Ormesby Parkinson’s Table Tennis group, England:

“The most valuable and memorable part of last year’s WTT4HF for me was that the whole event was all so friendly. Everyone was all so aware of the condition we are living with and were all so supportive of and for each other. It was amazing how well some competitors faired with winning medals, when they could barely walk to the table.”
“Sometimes, the moments away from the table are the most important. Communities and friendships are often built through those seemingly mundane activities taking place outside of competition – like drinking coffee and socialising with other players.”
“Find the joy, the rhythm, the fun — and of course, the coffee. The social side of the sport is, in many ways, the most important.”

And from Elisabeth Ildal (Lizzy), reflecting ahead of the 2025 Festival:

“I focus on staying positive and moving forward. There are good days and bad days, but most of them are good ones.”

These testimonies illustrate that beyond competition, what the Festival offers is connection, community, hope and improved well-being.

4. Expected Outcomes & Goals for 2025

• Strengthen ties between participants, caregivers, volunteers and sporting bodies in a supportive, inclusive environment.

• Provide a high-quality congress agenda that addresses topics of health, neuro-conditions and sport for all (via the ITTF Foundation’s health-programme focus).

• Use the inspiration from the China national championships visit to elevate our standards of event execution, participant support and visibility.

• Raise awareness globally of how table tennis supports physical-activity, mental health, neurological conditions and social inclusion.

5. Challenges & Risk Management

• Ensuring accessibility for participants with mobility / neurological impairment: transport, venue, scheduling must account for this.

• Health & safety: tailored medical support and contingency planning required given participant profiles.

• Logistics in the final two-weeks: participant travel, equipment, venue set-up, volunteer training must all be finalised.

• Maintaining the welcoming community atmosphere that past participants highlight as one of the event’s greatest strengths.

6. Summary & Call to Action
With just two weeks remaining until WTT4HF 2025, the team is entering a final intensive phase of preparation. Building on prior years’ success, grounded in the ITTF Foundation’s programme mission, and enriched by recent learning from China, this year’s Festival promises to be meaningful. The voices of Steve Loble and Lizzy remind us that while medals matter, the real legacy lies in joy, support, connection and inclusive play.
We invite all stakeholders — participants, national associations, volunteers and partners — to join us in making WTT4HF 2025 a memorable, impactful celebration of table tennis for health.