The ITTF leadership celebrated the sports elevation to six medal events at the Olympic Games during a press conference in Macao, China.

On 9 April 2025, the IOC Executive Board decided to introduce a groundbreaking Mixed Team event for table tennis at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The moment was cast as both a validation of long-term vision and a catalyst for future growth, particularly in terms of women sport development.

ITTF President and IOC Member Petra Sörling, , commented, The table tennis family is very proud to have six medal events. This decision reflects the strength of our sport and its universal appeal. It aligns perfectly with ITTFs vision for an inclusive, innovative future. One where men and women compete together, as equals, in a truly team-driven format. We believe the Mixed Team event will be a powerful catalyst for the development of womens table tennis globally, giving member associations fresh opportunities to invest and innovate.

The announcement marked a defining moment in ITTFs Olympic journey, which began with four medal events at Seoul 1988. With this sixth addition, table tennis is now poised to further its appeal and relevance within the Olympic Movement.

Also speaking in Macao, China was ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang, who oversaw the landmark Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu an event widely viewed as a proof of concept.

When we announced the inaugural Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu in August 2023, I believed it would be a meaningful step for our sport, said Liu. But I never imagined that less than two years later, this event would be part of the Olympic programme. It should be said that this is a victory for the world table tennis industry. I want to thank Petra Sörling for all her efforts and contributions in communication with the IOC and beyond.

ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton praised the achievement and pointed to the broader aspects that has helped the sport stand out. In the last few months our President Petra Sörling and our Secretary General Raul Calin were very focused on obtaining this extra medal and I think table tennis owes both of them a lot, said Dainton. In addition to the innovative Mixed Team format, what I think has helped us is that table tennis is having an incredibly large number of young fans, and especially female fans. This is a unique situation, and I think this has impressed quite many in the Olympic Movement.

With Chengdu preparing to host the third edition of the Mixed Team World Cup from 30 November to 7 December 2025, and the countdown to Los Angeles 2028 officially under way, table tennis finds itself entering a new Olympic chapter built on growth, innovation and inclusivity.