An International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) delegation led by President Petra Sörling, Co-chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission Liu Shiwen, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton and Secretary General Raul Calin recently embarked on a three-day visit to Switzerland, with the aim of engaging with European partners

The delegation’s visit kicked off on 24 February, with a trip to the iconic Olympic House in Lausanne, where they had the opportunity to meet with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. The meeting saw discussions on the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the international situation, and the position of the Olympic Movement. The fruitful dialogue between the ITTF and the IOC served as a significant step towards building an ever stronger relationship between the two organizations.

From 25 February, the delegation will attend the Europe Top 16 Cup, organized by the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) in the scenic city of Montreux. The yearly competition brings together Europe’s best 16 men and women players to vie for the title. The delegation’s presence reaffirmed the ITTF’s commitment to promoting the sport globally.

The ITTF Executives will also use the event to engage with European partners and connect with its Member Associations and the broader table tennis family. This offers a unique opportunity for the organisation to discuss upcoming events such as the Singapore Smash, the ITTF World Championships Finals Durban 2023, and the ITTF Summit.