ITTF ANNOUNCES 12 HOST CITIES FOR 2017 WORLD TOUR

The revamped ITTF World Tour will have a new logo, new branding and a new structure to better promote table tennis globally, the ITTF said in a statement.

On the announcement, ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “In 2016, we have worked hard to look at ways to push the World Tour product forward, with new partners and new conditions, the desire to host events has dramatically increased and we are so pleased to see conditions such as prize money increasing as well. We will now push forward to ensure events can grow both in terms of popularity and commercially so that over time we can showcase international table tennis more regularly throughout the year.”

He said the 2017 World Tour will be split into two tiers, six ITTF World Tour Platinum events, which is the new top tier of the World Tour, and six regular ITTF World Tour events. He added that there was an unprecedented amount of bids to be a part of the new ITTF World Tour, with the result being a higher prize money pool for all players.

“The six ITTF World Tour Platinum events will have higher prize money, and be of a higher level organisation, which will ensure the attendance of the world’s best players, resulting in more international exposure for the hosts”, the ITTF said.

The six cities that have won the right to host a 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum event are:
Doha, Qatar: 23-26 February 2017;Tokyo, Japan: 16-18 June 2017; Chengdu, China: 22-25 June 2017; Gold Coast, Australia: 29 June – 2 July 2017; Linz, Austria: 1- 3 September 2017 and Magdeburg, Germany 10-12 November 2017.

The regular ITTF World Tour events are: Budapest, Hungary: 19-22 January 2017; New Delhi, India: 16-19 February 2017; Incheon, Korea: 20-23 April 2017; Olomouc, Czech Republic: 24-27 August 2017; Panagyurishte, Bulgaria: 7-10 September 2017 and Stockholm, Sweden: 16-19 November 2017. Australia & Austria move up to the top World Tour tier for the first time, after successfully hosting regular lower-tiered World Tour events. India joins the ITTF World Tour for the first time, with New Delhi hosting the breakthrough event in February next year.

The 12 events all offer World Tour Standings points, which will be used to determine the top 16 players that qualify for the World Tour Grand Finals, to be held from 14-17 December 2017 in a location to be determined. Bidding for the 2018 ITTF World Tour will open in November, so stay tuned for more information.