The city of Busan has been elected host of the 2024 World Table Tennis Championships Finals after the event had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would like to congratulate Busan and I am already looking forward to the 2024 World Championships Finals,” said Petra Sörling. Congratulations to all the members of the Korean delegation. I am certain they will host a spectacular World Championships that will inspire millions across the world to play and enjoy table tennis.”

Despite having a long tradition of table tennis and iconic athletes, this is the first time the Republic of Korea will host the marquee event. It will be a fitting year as 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the introduction of table tennis in Korea.

Busan was supposed to host the 2020 World Championships before they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Cancelling the 2020 World Championships was a difficult decision, Steve Dainton, ITTF Group CEO commented. “Today at the Annual General Meeting, I believe the Member Associations have expressed their solidarity and sympathy with the city of Busan and KTTA, under the spirit of one united table tennis family.”

Seung-min Ryu, IOC Member and President of the Korea Table Tennis Association, commented, “I wish to thank all associations of the ITTF for their tremendous support for Busan. Thank you for once again trusting in us to put on a great event. I want to take a moment to commend the city of Busan, our Organizing Committee, and the Korea Table Tennis Association. Thank you for all the work you have done during this process. “

“We will make it a competition centred on players and spectators. We also intend to create a knowledge transfer program during the competition to share our experiences and knowledge with other member associations. By doing so, we are intended to raise the bar of our sport.

The ITTF started the bidding process for the 2024 World Table Tennis Championships Finals from March this year and Busan was elected today by the Member Associations during the 2021 ITTF Annual General Meeting, taking place in Houston, Texas. The Korean bid was facing a bid from Buenos Aires. Originally, five countries, Argentina, India, Korea, Portugal and Sweden had submitted bids.