Passion of table tennis, the world to Gangneung! The Gangneung World Masters Championship has been anchoredMayor Kim Hong-gyu X Lee Tae-sung, Chairman of the Co-organizing Committee, Appointed Hyun Jung-hwa, Chairman of the Executive Committee
Feb 05, 2025
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Gangneung City and the Korea Table Tennis Association held an inaugural general meeting and inauguration ceremony of the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championship Organizing Committee (organizing committee) at Seoul Dragon City on the 5th and vowed to hold a successful event.
Gangneung Mayor Kim Hong-kyu and Lee Tae-sung, chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Association, were elected as co-chairs at the inaugural general meeting. 'Table ball legend' Hyun Jung-hwa, former vice chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Association, has been appointed as the executive chairman of the organizing committee to oversee the practical affairs of the competition. Jeong Hae-cheon, former secretary-general of the Korea Table Tennis Association, was appointed as the secretary-general of the organizing committee. It appointed 55 organizers and 11 executive members.
In his inaugural address, co-chairman Kim Hong-kyu said, `It is an honor to hold a world-class table tennis festival in Gangneung. Based on the experience and infrastructure of successful hosting of two Olympics, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics, we will create the best safe and successful competition ever" expressed his aspirations. "Let's rewrite the success story of Korean table tennis in Gangneung, where history and tradition live."
Co-chairman Lee Tae-sung then said, "After experiencing two failed bids in 2015, I will host the event in Gangneung in 2024. I can't imagine how much effort would have been made. I would like to thank Gangneung City and table tennis players for their efforts for a successful competition in an invisible place. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of many people, I have the honor of being able to hold a big competition within my term. As much as I love table tennis, I will do my best to ensure that the efforts of many people are not in vain"I promised. More than 60 officials, including co-chairman Kim Hong-kyu and Lee Tae-sung, vice chairman of Gangneung City Council Cho Dae-young, former vice chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Association Hyun Jung-hwa, and former secretary-general of the Busan World Table Tennis Championships, Kim Taek-soo, participated in the launch ceremony. In particular, Yoo Seung Min, the president-elect of the Korea Sports Council, visited the site immediately after the inaugural general meeting and received enthusiastic applause from table tennis players. President-elect Yoo successfully played the 2024 Busan World Table Tennis Championship while working as the president of the Korea Table Tennis Association, leading him to host the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championship at the site. President-elect Yoo took the podium to congratulate him on his first official speech since he was elected as the chairman of the Korea Sports Council"I wished the tournament a success. Then "Gangneung is a wonderful city. The city that was beautifully imprinted on people all over the world during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Gangwon Youth Winter Olympics. "I personally like Gangneung in summer. Many people will come from all over the world next June. I expected that I would be able to imprint the charm of winter with the charm of summer and Gangneung around the world." "About 7,000 people attended the Rome Games in Italy, and we hope it will be more than that."I think Lee Tae-sung, president of the Korea Table Tennis Association, who is the co-chairman of the organizing committee, will also participate. Gangneung Mayor Kim Hong-kyu is also expected to become a table tennis player for two years. I will prepare hard so that I can participate in the competitionA smile spread across the audience at the words ". "It's a tournament with a lot of affection. As it is a competition that was achieved together through fierce competition, I believe that it will be a successful competition with table tennis players and Gangneung citizens joining forces. I will do my best"I promised.
President-elect Yoo Seung Min said "The 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championship is a stage to complete the hosting of the world-scale table tennis festival in Korea following the Asian Championship and the World Championship. I believe that after this competition, Korean table tennis will also grow to another level, and the name of Gangneung, which invites many participants, will be more widely known. The Korean Olympic Committee will also do its best to help as far as possible."
The hopeful launch ceremony ended with a 'Wish for Success' performance containing the wishes of all participants. Everyone who loves table tennis "The passion of table tennis! He lifted the cheering towel with one heart, shouting, `The world to Gangneung.'
The World Masters Table Tennis Championships is a first-class competition organized by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and is held every two years. Five events, men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, will be held by 40 to 90 years old (over) and '5 years old'. The 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships will be held from June 5 to 14 next year at Gangneung Olympic Park Speed Skating Stadium and Gangneung Arena. 4,000 domestic and foreign players aged 40 or older (1,000 in Korea and 3,000 in foreign countries) will participate to compete and build friendships. As it is a table tennis festival for hobbyists, there are many family visits, and the competition period reaches 10 days. If more than 10,000 athletes, executives, officials, and tourists from around the world visit the Gangneung competition, it is expected to contribute greatly to revitalizing local tourism and the local economy.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
