Pre-registrations open for ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships 2021
In light of Covid-19 and respective international travel restrictions, the 2020 edition of the ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships had to be postponed until Spring 2021. But to spread some good news: pre-registrations are already open!
Our pilot TT4Health project ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships (PWTTC) 2019 was an eagerly anticipated and historic event raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease and showcasing the impact of table tennis on a social, mental and physical level. It was a huge success, not only because it’s nominated as a finalist at the Sports Business Awards 2020, but because it demonstrated community at its best!
“It felt more like a family reunion than a table tennis tournament. Players were awesome about sharing information, about their conditions and what they do about it...” Hamid Ezzat-Ahmadi, PWTTC 2019 participant from USA
After thorough consideration, we decided together with organiser YUVEDO and the German Table Tennis Federation to postpone PWTTC 2020 in Berlin, GERMANY, from August 2020 to Spring 2021 due to the current Covid-19 situation.
“It is a great honour for us to host the second ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships. We want to organise a great tournament that meets high international tournament standards. But it is and will remain an Everyone-Tournament open to players of all levels without pre-qualification. We celebrate top games and top players as well as hobby players because we are serving a great mission: We want to make life easier for people with Parkinson's disease. Because table tennis has great therapeutic potential and a social dimension that is not to be underestimated. We sincerely hope that the World Championship can take place in April next year despite Covid-19.” Jens Greve, YUVEDO Founder and Berlin 2021 LOC Chairperson
People with Parkinson’s are among those particularly at risk of contagion and we see it as our duty to assure the player’s health and safety.
“With the Germany-based company YUVEDO and its founder Jens Greve we have a motivating and competent partner to create an even bigger impact on the people affected by Parkinson’s through the second edition of the PWTTC. It is sad, that we have to wait longer to hear, see and share the inspiring stories of the future participants, but I’m grateful at the same time that we are again a part of this very special experience.” Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director
PWTTC 2021: About the tournament
The event will take place from 22 to 24 April 2021 in Berlin, for which you can already pre-register here to be one of the firsts to get updated:
It is open to 300 players living with Parkinson’s from everywhere who are going to be classified based on the severity of their symptoms. The participants also have the opportunity to decide to play in a live-streamed single, double or mixed competition – without any national qualifications.
In order to make the tournament as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone, there will be available on-site:
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- Catering with food and beverages considering the needs of the participants’ condition.
- Resting and nap rooms for the players.
- Translators for Chinese, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish.