Permanent base for World Table Tennis coming to Southern California

Fresh off the debut of US Smash in Las Vegas, World Table Tennis (WTT) has announced plans to establish its first-ever permanent base in the United States. A ceremony was held in Greater Los Angeles on 15 July 2025—just one day after the official three-year countdown to the LA 2028 Olympic Games began—signals a transformative moment for the sport in one of its most commercially significant territories.

The ceremony was attended by, Petra Sörling, ITTF President and IOC Member; Steve Dainton, ITTF and WTT Chief Executive Officer; Niccolo Campriani, Vice President of Sports, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games; Li Zhiqiang, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China; and Lei Zhenjian, WTT Board Director and ITTF Foundation Governing Board Member.

The new Southern California development—set to house both a state-of-the-art WTT Global Training Center and a US Office—underscores WTT’s long-term commitment to building the presence and profile of professional table tennis in the world’s largest sports and entertainment market. The establishment will also become home to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)’s US Office and World Table Tennis Management Group (WTMG) global headquarters, bringing strategic and commercial operations closer to one of the sport’s fastest-growing audiences.

With LA28 fast approaching, the new WTT establishment will serve as a dual-purpose hub: a professional-grade training base for players to rise through the ranks, and a world-class environment for elite international athletes to prepare ahead of the Olympic Games. According to the IOC’s official competition schedule, table tennis at LA28 will feature six medal events for the first time in Olympic history, reflecting the sport’s elevated global standing.

“The US has always represented a powerful opportunity for table tennis. By establishing a base in America, we’re creating new opportunities for emerging talent and deepening our investment in grassroots and elite development alike,” said Petra Sörling, ITTF President. “With our sights on the LA 2028 Olympic Games, this initiative will help us connect with a wider audience and inspire the next generation of players in one of the most dynamic sporting landscapes in the world.”

The announcement comes off the back of US Smash 2025, the debut WTT Grand Smash in USA held at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena, which shattered expectations and set a new benchmark for how table tennis is staged and experienced in the Americas. With world-class production, athlete storytelling, and crowd-fuelled drama, WTT’s debut US Smash marked a turning point for the sport’s presence in America.

“The US is the most competitive sports market in the world; and we’re not just showing up, we’re showing up with purpose. US Smash 2025 proved what’s possible when table tennis meets ambition, and now we’re building on that momentum,” said Steve Dainton, ITTF and WTT Chief Executive Officer. “This new hub is the start of a long game to embed our sport in the American landscape, fuel global growth, and shape the next era of World Table Tennis.”

Niccolo Campriani, Vice President of Sports, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, also welcomed the move: “ITTF’s and WTT’s decision to set up a US office in Los Angeles is a highly forward-looking strategic move, fully demonstrating their enterprising and pioneering spirit. For us, it’s about delivering an unforgettable Olympic event. And for ITTF, this is a rare opportunity to elevate the sport across the US. As LA28 draws nearer, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with ITTF to ensure table tennis leaves a lasting legacy.”

In the lead-up to the launch, Ping-Pong Diplomacy—a hallmark of US–China relations for over five decades—was honored through a series of cultural exchanges held at a local Las Vegas community center on 13 July. Players from Team China and Team USA participated in friendly matches and community engagement sessions with local youth, reflecting the unifying power of table tennis beyond competition.

“It is a pleasure to witness WTT’s establishment of a hub in the US. This is a crucial step in promoting table tennis globally,” said Li Zhiqiang, Deputy Consul General of China in Los Angeles. “China has always been a strong advocate for the sport’s development around the world. Ping Pong Diplomacy continues to remind us that sports can connect people, and we look forward to building on this spirit as we head toward LA28.”

The WTT US Office, ITTF US Office and the WTMG Global Office will commence operations by end of 2025, while the WTT Global Training Center is set to open its doors in the second quarter of 2026.