Celebrating inclusivity and spreading seeds of inspiration: ITTF Foundation at the ITTF World Masters Championships Rome 2024

With just 50 days until the 2024 World Table Tennis for Health Festival (WTT4HF) and only 20 days left to register, the momentum to celebrate the spirit of TT4Health is building! As we eagerly await to welcome you to the upcoming Festival, we take this opportunity to present a throwback on one of our recent campaigns within TT4Health. Let’s look at the impactful presence we had at the ITTF World Masters Table Tennis Championships Rome 2024 concluded successfully in July.

The World Masters 2024, held in the historic city of Rome, brought together 6,100 athletes aged 40 to 99, showcasing the perseverance and camaraderie that transcends ages and boundaries. While witnessing the table tennis veterans fighting for their pride, we made our debut at this major event with a team of Parkinson’s and an on-site booth, engaging with everyone who gathered for this grand occasion, raising awareness of the Foundation’s impactful programmes, and spreading stories of our mission and vision.

The Foundation team and the players’ amazing journey

Standing for Diversity and Inclusion in table tennis, we formed a team composed of two players with Parkinson’s disease, competing alongside able-bodied players at the World Masters in Rome and exemplifying a spirit of hope and resilience. Led and supported by the Foundation, with sponsorship from Swaythling Club International (SCI) and Double Happiness, the two players with Parkinson’s, Agnes Jan and Steve Morley, competed in 18 matches over 5 days in various categories, including women's singles 60, women's doubles 60, men's singles 60, men's doubles 60, and mixed doubles 60.

Upon arriving at the tournament, Steve recalled his astonishment, “The quality of play was frightening. Then I remembered it's an able-bodied tournament rather than a Parkinson's competition and many of the players are former national champions!”

Despite the intensity and challenges of the competitions, through every ball, point, game, and match they played and every drop of sweat they shed, Anges and Steve embodied the essence of sportsmanship, fearlessness, and inclusion in the sport, projecting hope for individuals facing similar neurodegenerative diseases.

Reflecting on the campaign, Agnes said, “Playing against the other participants was very challenging but also rewarding. Scoring points in the first matches motivated me not to give up, even as a relatively inexperienced player. I could keep up with the Masters from all over the world.”

She also noted that during the tournament her condition was under control: “I felt good all week long. The symptoms of Parkinson’s were mild, and I was able to play at my normal pace.”

Steve added, “What a journey it had been! I hope that we have been able to show that people with Parkinson's are able to participate in a high-level able-bodied tournament.” Their participation not only highlighted the health benefits table tennis can bring but also served as a powerful example of overcoming life’s barriers.

During the hectic tournament week, the Foundation team also had the chance to express its gratitude in person to some of the main supporters who contributed to making this happen. These include the Foundation's Governing Board member, Princess Zeina, and the President of SCI, Claude Bergeret.

(Left to right: Agnes’ son—Florian; Agnes Jan; ITTF Foundation Governing Board member —Princess Zeina; Steve Morley; Steve’s partner—Elaina; ITTF Foundation Director—Leandro Olvech)

We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who has given any generous support to the Foundation team on its amazing journey, allowing our players and their determination to be able to shine on the global stage.

However, this is not the end of Agnes and Steve’s table tennis story. Moving forward, they will keep practising table tennis while combatting Parkinson’s, and get ready to participate in the World Table Tennis for Health Festival in Maizieres-le-Metz, France, this October, where they will compete again in the mixed doubles!

Foundation booth and engagement at Nuova Fiera di Roma

Amidst the buzz of the tournament, the Foundation hosted a booth in the main hall of the Nuova Fiera di Roma. Throughout the week, we warmly welcomed and actively engaged with visitors from around the globe, spreading awareness of our commitment to improving lives through health, inclusivity, sustainability, and social development over the past 5 years.

We met many wonderful individuals who resonated with our worldwide projects and had a lot of fun engaging them in playful activities.

A big shoutout goes to those 152 people who showed their recognition and belief with their generous donations to our cause. These donations will significantly further our efforts in the communities through our beloved sport.

Agreement achieved with Swaythling Club International

At the reception following SCI’s Annual General Meeting taking place in Rome, a meaningful sponsorship agreement between the ITTF Foundation and SCI was signed. The agreement, signed by SCI President Claude Bergeret and Foundation Director Leandro Olvech and witnessed by the ITTF and ITTF Foundation President Petra Sörling, will financially support the Foundation team’s participation at this World Masters as well as the activation of the Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. Through this partnership, SCI exemplifies and boosts its vision and values in strengthening the bonds among international table tennis enthusiasts by showcasing the uniting power of the sport for positive social change alongside the Foundation’s cause.

Sharing her thoughts on the agreement, Bergeret expressed, "We are proud, honoured, and happy to be on board with the ITTF Foundation, sharing the same goals of bringing together the goodwill to support people, associations, and countries in need and promote a better society through table tennis. Together, we strive to inspire and unite the global table tennis community. Everyone is welcome to join us. Let’s do it together."

Olvech added, “Partnering with SCI strengthens our mission and allows us to reach even more communities with our impactful programmes. We are grateful for their support and look forward to many more successful initiatives together.”

Appreciation and looking ahead

The week in Rome was a fruitful journey of joy, connections, inspiration, and new perspectives for us. We extend a special thank you to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Italian Table Tennis Federation (FITET), and the local organising committee for hosting and making this historic event possible. This platform has allowed us to perfectly convey our values and beliefs.

Our final and most heartfelt thanks go to everyone who visited, listened to, and embraced the Foundation’s vision and enjoyed the activities we had together. As we continue preparing for the upcoming 2024 WTT4HF and our journey to bring about positive social change through the sport, we look forward to writing new chapters and extending our legacy to the next ITTF World Masters Championships in Korea in 2026, where we hope to see familiar faces and meet new ones.