LIVE LONG, LIVE HEALTHY, PLAY PING PONG, ONE FOR ALL

ITTF’s Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships shines a light on the social and health benefits of playing table tennis for people with Parkinson’s. The 2021 ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships were held in Berlin, Germany from 9 to 11 September 2021. Three days of competition and networking crowned many Parkinson’s world champions and left life-long friendship between 135 players, coaches, officials and volunteers across continents from 21 countries pursuing medals and companionships.

The Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championship (PWTTC) 2021 was more than a competition. It was a global celebration of life and an open arena for the Parkinson’s fighters, and was hosted by the Berlin based not-for-profit YUVEDO Foundation.

Founder and Managing Director of YUVEDO Foundation and Parkinson’s fighter, Jens Greve, said: “People with Parkinson’s deserve to be celebrated. The disease is such a heavy burden, and we are fighting against it every day. Table tennis is an inherent part of our rehabilitation and this world championships is the highlight. This tournament is dedicated to all Parkinson’s fighters out there. Society should see that we can play table tennis just as well as anyone else, even with our conditions and physical impairments.”

ITTF Group CEO, Steve Dainton, said: “The ITTF Group is honoured to be a part of the movement in promoting the health benefits of table tennis for people with Parkinson’s. As our motto Table Tennis, For All, For Life goes, the ITTF believes in the power of table tennis in being inclusive. It is a sport for everyone to enjoy, regardless of age, gender, or physical conditions. PWTTC is a perfect example of this, and we are happy to be leading the journey in making these championships bigger and more accessible for the Parkinson’s community.”

Supported by ITTF and ITTF Foundation, the PWTTC 2021 has excelled in both creativity and execution. ITTF President Thomas Weikert and Vice President Petra Sörling were also happy to be there to support the Parkinson’s fighters.

ITTF President, Thomas Weikert, said: “The players at PWTTC have brought our motto Table Tennis. For All, For Life to life. We have witnessed the strength and determination of those players who remind the world not to give up, even when facing obstacles. At PWTTC, winning is only secondary, participating and playing table tennis is the main goal.”

ITTF Vice President, Petra Sörling, said: “Table tennis is joy for everyone. We are at the beginning of a long journey in promoting the health benefits of table tennis for Parkinson’s fighters. The PWTTC is the ITTF Group creating history with the Parkinson’s community, and this would be our legacy for the future generations.”.

Petra continued: “The PWTTC started in New York 2019 with just a small idea of ITTF CEO Steve Dainton. That tournament was a success thanks to the founder of Ping Pong Parkinson USA, Nenad Bach. After a year’s break due to the pandemic, the PWTTC was back in Berlin, and we were thrilled to see how the championships have scaled up, thanks to Jens Greve and his enthusiastic team. We are adapting the table tennis rules to the needs of people with Parkinson, in order to make the sport more inclusive. “

ITTF Foundation Director, Leandro Olvech, said: “There are many similarities with Para Table Tennis, like those adaptations and the grouping by classification. For those reasons we started a cooperation between both movements. For example, the Competition Manager was Pablo Perez, ITTF Head of Para Table Tennis and a classifier, who is helping us to improve the PWTTC. While we are still experimenting with the competition format, adaptations and classification system, but I feel that we are getting closer to get our standards. Players are already completing a comprehensive survey post event, and together with our internal reports we will fine tune for the next PWTTC in Croatia 2022. The bidding process to host future PWTTC editions will be open before the end of this year and we hope to have many interested countries.”

PWTTC 2021 was by no means a regular table tennis tournament. The anthem of PWTTC 2021 “One for All.” was released for the first time during the opening ceremony. The mellow tunes and the sing-along have set the perfect ambience for the competition, foreshadowing the togetherness and the collaborative narrative of all Parkinson’s fighters, inside or outside the arena.

TTNSW Vice President, Ted Davis, said “A new national health policy agenda is emerging for the developed countries, which are struggling with a major ageing problem. People have been given a long and healthy life, and although many enjoy good health, more will at some point face ordinary ageing problems or diseases and defects.”

Ted continued, “Table tennis is an affordable sport, and it does not require big space, and can be placed almost anywhere! It is relatively easy to learn, and players rarely get seriously injured. It can be practised throughout your whole life into very old age. It is the ideal sport for older people. Research proves that table tennis stimulates blood circulation, improves physical fitness, enhances hand-eye coordination, and gently stimulates several areas of the brain. It is extremely beneficial in treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Table tennis will likely become a big part of the health promotion revolution in the coming two to three decades “

2021 NSW Seniors Expo was held from 20 to 21 April 2021 at Exhibition Centre, International Convention Centre, Sydney. Ted was interviewed at this Expo by Jean Kittson, Australian performer, writer and comedian in theatre and print, on radio and television.

Ted said: “TTNSW is the governing body for table tennis in New South Wales. Our sport works from the bottom up, and we have a lot of places for seniors to play. Luckily, we received a small grant from the NSW Government to setup table tennis clubs, especially for seniors in NSW. “

Jean said: “Fantastic! Would you please let me know have you been play table tennis?”

Ted:” I am embarrassed to tell you. It is ONLY 60 years.”

Jean:” How fantastic it is! You must be an expert!”

Ted: “Look, I like to believe it. But my opposition all disagree with you.”

Jean:” Well, I will come out and I will test you later on.”

Ted: “You are very welcome to join us and play with us. Table tennis is not only an Olympic sport, it is also the best sport for everyone, especially for seniors. We have several active players over 100 years old. ”

Director of TTNSW, Michael Li, said: “South Tweed Heads Table Tennis Club in NSW was founded in 2006, and its members are aged 60 to 101. There aren't many sports clubs around Australia and around the world where being 80 makes you one of the youngsters. Its 100-year-old Club Secretary, Cec Shaw, has been playing since 1940. Cec has been involved with table tennis for more than 80 years and to this day is still an active player and administrator. Cec was awarded TTA Life Membership in 1967 in recognition of his significant contribution to Australian table tennis. Cec is living proof of the saying – to live long, to live healthily, play ping pong! "

Table Tennis Australia (TTA) CEO, Scott Houston congratulated Cec’s 100^th birthday on 27 Aug 2021, and said: “Cec’s lifelong contribution to the table tennis community is outstanding and inspiring. We’d like to celebrate this special moment with him and congratulate Cec for reaching yet another amazing milestone in a long series of achievements. Cec’s work as an administrator at a national level was crucial to lay the foundations for the table tennis community and shape it into what it is today. His dedication and passion for the sport is an example for the entire table tennis community. It is extraordinary to see that at his age he is still involved with the South Tweed Table Tennis Club as a player and an administrator, and a testament to the respect and affection that the local community have for him.”

To celebrate Cec’s 100 years young birthday, TTA presented him with a National Team shirt with the wording ‘100 Not Out’ on the back. Cec’s involvement in table tennis continues as he reaches his 100th birthday, proving once again that table tennis is a sport for all ages and abilities. As the saying goes, LIVE LONG, LIVE HEALTHY, PLAY PING PONG, ONE FOR ALL.

David Lee and Michael Li wish to gratefully acknowledge Cathy Border of ABC Gold Coast, Table Tennis NSW, Table Tennis Australia, ITTF and ITTF Foundation.