GANGNEUNG CITY ENG - 솔향강릉

- Gangneung City and the Korea Table Tennis Association Promote Gangneung in Rome! -

Gangneung City (Mayor Kim Hong-gyu) and the Korea Table Tennis Association (President Yoo Seung-min) have initiated a major promotional campaign in Rome, the host city of the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Masters Table Tennis Championships, to promote Gangneung as the upcoming venue for the 2026 championships scheduled for May–June 2026.

A delegation of seven (comprising two members from Gangneung City and five from the Association), led by the Secretary General of the Korea Table Tennis Association, is actively promoting the 2026 Gangneung ITTF World Masters Table Tennis Championships in Rome. They are managing a promotional booth, conducting site visits, participating in operational meetings, and distributing promotional materials such as 2026 tournament leaflets, Gangneung tourism booklets, City of Gastronomy brochures, Gangneung City tourist maps, and Gangneung Danoje Festival character magnets.

The delegation reports enthusiastic reactions from many visitors at the promotional booth, who have shown great curiosity about Gangneung City, Republic of Korea, particularly regarding traditional foods, tourist attractions, and characters from the Gangneung Danoje Festival.

The ITTF World Masters Table Tennis Championships is an international recreational table tennis event that is open to players over the age of 40, whether amateurs or professionals. The tournament features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles and is divided into 11 age categories, each spanning 5 years.

Traditionally held biennially in Europe, this tournament has taken place 22 times and is gradually expanding into Asia. It typically attracts participants from 91 countries, totaling approximately 2,400 competitors.

The Rome event itself registered a record-breaking 6,100 participants from 109 countries, demonstrating growing interest and expanding scale with each edition. For the 2026 Gangneung event, participant numbers are expected to increase from 4,000 to 5,000, with overall attendance, including family members, likely to exceed 20,000.

In addition, the synergy with the ITS World Congress, scheduled for October of the same year, is expected to significantly boost the local economy.

Gangneung City and the Korea Table Tennis Association are diligently preparing for the event, inspecting facilities and accommodations, and addressing any deficiencies. They have also formed a committee of experts from various fields to actively advance the event’s preparations.

In February, Gangneung City was chosen to host the 2026 ITTF World Masters Table Tennis Championships after a competitive bid against Elche, Alicante Province, Spain, at the ITTF board meeting held at the BEXCO Convention Hall in Busan.