Furthermore, notable international players have leant their support to add an extra ingredient to the initiative.

Silver medallist in the women’s singles event at the 2019 African Games and gold medal winner at the 2010 African Championships, Sarah Hanffou will be present, as will Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm, a winner on the ITTF World Tour. She secured the women’s singles title at the 2012 Morocco Open in Rabat.

Likewise, Paralympian, Norway’s Aida Dahlen will be on duty; bronze medallist in women’s singles class 8 at the recent Para European Championships some two weeks ago in Helsingborg, she secured the title in 2015 in Vejle and in 2017 in Lasko.

They are all part of initiative to promote well-being, to advance understanding and co-operation; a concept very dear to the heart of Thomas Weikert, ITTF President and President of the ITTF Foundation.

“An exciting and promising future lays ahead of us! I hope that the entire table tennis community gets involved and inspired to make a positive impact through our sport.” Thomas Weikert

Join in the fun?

Visit any station in Willy-Brandt-Platz, University of Leipzig “Augusteum”, Augustusplatz, Moritzbastei, Little Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz or Thomaskirche and take a fun quiz!

The six stations represent the six programmes of the ITTF Foundation. You can do this by playing table tennis or answering a question on-site or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Can you play while tied together with a stranger of friend? Practise your strokes against a robot? Play in a wheelchair or imagine yourself as a player with a visual impairment. All these challenges are aimed at helping everyone who attends the event to witness a different perspective to life; ideals that Leandro Olvech, the ITTF Foundation Director, is keen to support.

“The ITTF has a long history of corporate social responsibility projects across the world. Now that the ITTF Foundation is completely set up, we have a good location and an amazing team that is dedicated to building dreams and inspiring others to use table tennis as a tool for sustainable development and shared prosperity.” Leandro Olvech

A very simple message but one of great validity, play table tennis, make friends, promote peace and harmony.

The ITTF Foundation: Solidarity starts here