2024 World Table Tennis for Health Congress unveiled with engaging sessions
The 2024 World Table Tennis for Health Congress began today, aiming to serve as a platform to discuss and promote the health benefits of table tennis. Taking place both online and in Maizières-lès-Metz, France, the two-day event was officially opened by ITTF & ITTF Foundation President Petra Sörling and moderated by Taisa Belli, Chair of the ITTF Sport Science and Medical Committee. Health experts, researchers, and leading institutions from around the world have come together to explore the connection between table tennis and overall well-being.
Today's sessions of the Congress explored a variety of topics under the theme "Table Tennis for Health" (TT4Health). Philipp Müller-Wirth, Head of the Sports Section at UNESCO, kicked off by introducing UNESCO’s "Fit for Life" initiative—a collaborative alliance that fosters collective action and knowledge-sharing to advance inclusive physical education and activity policies worldwide.
Following it, neuroscientist Liz Franz from the University of Otago presented on the benefits of table tennis for active ageing, highlighting its positive effects on brain and cognitive health. Further insights on the benefits of table tennis for Parkinson's were shared by physiotherapy expert Denis Obert, Daniel Rodriguez, CEO of Sense4Care, and Dr. Yasunobu Hoshino from Juntendo University.
Their presentations covered practical guidelines for exercise routines, the use of wearable devices to assess motor function, and the potential of table tennis as a therapeutic tool for managing Parkinson’s. The day concluded with "Parlons Recherche," France Parkinson's annual conference, presented as a collaborative session between the ITTF Foundation and France Parkinson at the Congress.
Zoran Primorac becomes ITTF Foundation Ambassador
A major highlight at the Congress today was the announcement of Zoran Primorac as the newest Ambassador for the ITTF Foundation. The seven-time table tennis Olympian was honoured with the role by Foundation Director Leandro Olvech, with ITTF & ITTF Foundation President Petra Sörling and HRH Princess Zeina Rashid of Jordan presenting him with the Ambassador’s shirt in this special occasion.
Joining the ranks of three other current Ambassadors Galia Dvorak, Ryu Seung-min, and Sharath Kamal, Zoran will support the Foundation’s mission to promote the positive values of table tennis, particularly its benefits for health.
Tomorrow, the Congress will continue with a lineup of engaging sessions, including "Implementing Active Ageing," "TT4Health: Focus on Alzheimer’s," and "Building the Legacy for WTT4H Festival" to further explore and discuss the learnings and future of using table tennis to combat neurodegenerative conditions. Additionally, the comprehensive NeuroPong™ Handbook, offering both scientific insights and practical advice on how table tennis can enhance the quality of life for individuals living with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Dementia, will be officially released tomorrow.
Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into the transformative power of table tennis! If you haven’t joined us, click here to register.