Archives | 27 Jun 2018
ITTF Signs Continental Investment Agreements with Europe & Latin America
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has signed two more Continental Commercial Investment Agreements with Europe and Latin America. The agreements aim to support the marketing and commercial capability within both Continents, and are a key part of the ITTF's Strategic Plan from 2018 to 2024 to promote "Table Tennis. For All. For Life."
ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT, said "The new ITTF Strategic Plan was unanimously endorsed in Halmstad at our AGM at the World Championships in May, so we are clear on our priorities and focus over the coming years. As part of the priorities, the ITTF is firmly committed to invest in our Continents to help increase marketing and commercial activities to take our sport to the next level. We believe that we can only achieve long-term and sustainable growth in our sport if we work collaboratively with our Continental partners, National Associations, and event organisers moving forward. I, along with my Executive Team and the Marketing Department, have been energised by the response from partners in Oceania, North America, and now Europe and Latin America. We are aiming to raise the bar, and our partners have responded very positively to the challenge."
Under the Europe Strategic Commercial Agreement, investment will be made in Marketing and Commercial support, including sponsorship, promotional and event support. Successes already achieved by the team include increase in reach and engagement in ETTU's social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr. Through working with the local organisers, the ITTF has also assisted securing title sponsors including China Construction Bank and Liebherr for ITTF-Europe events, which also now form part of a global Eurosport deal through ITTF.
Ronald KRAMER, President of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), added "It is great news to have struck a strategic commercial agreement with the ITTF to enhance table tennis in Europe. We have needed Marketing and Commercial support for some time and we have already started to make huge strides. My thank you to President Thomas Weikert and his Executive Committee for the endorsement of European table tennis, I know the ETTU Executive Board and professional staff are committed to taking full advantage of this collaborative approach."
Similarly for Latin America, ITTF will be providing more Marketing & Commercial support for Continental events in the region as part of the agreement, which has now seen growth in Latin America Table Tennis Union (LATTU)'s various social media platforms as well as live TV transmission around the region for the recently concluded ITTF-Pan American Cup.
President of LATTU Juan VILA stated "This agreement will allow LATTU to reach World Class standards in the organization of our events, like what we have witnessed last weekend at the ITTF-Pan American Cup held in Asuncion, Paraguay. We look forward to working hand in hand with the ITTF through the agreement to help multiply the growth capacity and create the conditions and positive environment for important companies to be aiming to associate their brands with our sport, for the benefit of the LATTU and the ITTF."
These two agreements follow on deals with Oceania and North America signed in 2016, with new strategic partnerships to be announced in the near future.
