The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) warmly welcomes the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board to introduce a groundbreaking Mixed Team event for table tennis at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This historic development significantly enhances the Olympic table tennis programme, which will now feature Mens and Womens Singles, the return of Mens and Womens Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and, for the first time ever at the Olympic Games, the Mixed Team event.

The Mixed Team event was first successfully launched at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup held in Chengdu, China, in December 2023. This innovative format brings male and female players together in combined national teams, highlighting the sports strong commitment to gender equality, integration, and teamwork. Its Olympic debut at LA28 promises to captivate fans worldwide, delivering an inclusive, dynamic, and strategically rich competition reflective of the sports global appeal.

ITTF President Petra Sörling expressed her gratitude and excitement, This landmark decision by the IOC Executive Board builds on the incredible momentum table tennis is experiencing and is a testament to its growing universal appeal. After the resounding success of table tennis at Paris 2024, the introduction of the Mixed Team event in Los Angeles marks another historic milestone, fully aligned with our vision of a dynamic, inclusive future for our sport.

The ITTF has long believed in the potential of the Mixed Team event. It was first formally proposed by the Swedish Table Tennis Association during the 2021 Annual General Meeting, before becoming a reality at the inaugural ITTF Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu in December 2023. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang for his strong support in delivering a phenomenal event that demonstrated the remarkable potential of this format.

Table tennis first appeared in the Olympic Games at Seoul 1988 with four events: Mens and Womens Singles, and Doubles. The programme evolved at Beijing 2008, when team events replaced doubles, emphasizing collective achievement. It remained with four events until Rio 2016. At Tokyo 2020, Mixed Doubles made its debut, further advancing gender equality within the sport. And now, the sport will feature six events at the next Olympic Games in Los Angelesa remarkable rise that highlights table tenniss growing stature on the Olympic stage.

The ITTF extends sincere gratitude to the Olympic Programme Commission and the IOC Executive Board for their visionary leadership and ongoing support, pledging to ensure the successful introduction of the Mixed Team event, just as it did with the Mixed Doubles at Tokyo 2020.

Alongside the new Mixed Team competition, the reinstatement of Mens and Womens Doubles at LA28 will be a compelling storyline for fans eager to see who follows in the footsteps of the last Olympic doubles championsChinas Chen Qi and Ma Lin (Mens Doubles), and Wang Nan and Zhang Yining (Womens Doubles), crowned in Athens 2004.

Table tennis enjoyed overwhelming success at Paris 2024, setting a new benchmark for what the sport can achieve at the Olympic Games. With full stands every day, the vibrant atmosphere clearly demonstrated the sports potential to captivate large audiences, leaving both players and fans eager for the next chapter in its Olympic journey. The ITTF looks forward to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure Los Angeles continues this trajectory, exploring opportunities to create an even more spectacular venue experience that fully matches table tenniss ever-growing fanbase.