Member Associations | 21 Aug 2024

Girl's Festival in Sweden – For the Second Time!

Photo: Jens Oredsson

The Swedish Girls' Festival took place for the second consecutive year in the table tennis city of Halmstad, from August 9-13. Building on the success of its inaugural event, this year’s festival was organized with even higher ambitions. The numbers say it all: 160 female participants, 18 trainers (14 of whom were female), 80 tables, and three different halls, each named after Swedish Olympic team members and role models: Linda BERGSTRÖM, Stina KÄLLBERG, and Filippa BERGAND.

The driving force behind this inspiring event was, once again, Maria CHRISTOFORAKI, the female strategist of the Swedish Table Tennis Association and a former national team table tennis player for Greece.

“The festival this year created a wonderful new memory for life! The happiness, appreciation, and love I received from everyone made all the hard work worthwhile and truly warmed my heart,” said Maria CHRISTOFORAKI.

Table Tennis Practice and Social Activities

This year’s festival took on a more educational and inspirational tone. Along with many hours of table tennis training, participants had the opportunity to attend various lectures, workshops, and social activities. A highlight of the event was the chance for everyone to meet, take photos with, and interview Jörgen Persson and Stina Källberg, fresh from their successful performance at the Olympic Games in Paris. Additionally, participants were hosted by Siri Benjegård, the 13-year-old rising star who shone at the European Youth Championships and the European U13-Championships.

“The purpose of this festival goes beyond table tennis development. We aim to encourage attendees to connect, network, and inspire each other, while also having fun and creating lasting friendships outside the sport,” added Maria CHRISTOFORAKI.

A Festival for EVERYONE

What makes the festival truly special is its inclusivity—every female, regardless of age or skill level, is welcome to participate. The youngest participant, 9-year-old Märta, said she “improved her table tennis a lot, made new friends, but the best moment for her was meeting and playing with her idol, Stina.” Meanwhile, the oldest participant, 78-year-old Angela, who also took part in last year’s event, noted that “table tennis helps my physical condition, and I started playing to improve my health. The most exciting part was learning new things, meeting new people, and improving thanks to the tips from both trainers and younger participants.”

Another standout moment was the participation of a family spanning three generations—grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter—who were thrilled to find a shared activity that they could all enjoy together as a family.

“A big thank you to all the participants, trainers, colleagues, and sponsors who embraced and believed in this idea! I look forward to next year when we will create an even better festival,” concluded Maria CHRISTOFORAKI.