The ITTF Summit 2025 continued with the Finance Forum today, where delegates examined the financial statements of the International Table Tennis Federation and its commercial arm, World Table Tennis (WTT).
ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton welcomed the delegates to the session before Executive Vice President of Finance Dr. Alaa Meshref and ITTF Group Chief Financial Officer Michael Brown presented the consolidated financial statements for 2023 and 2024, with delegates actively engaging through questions and discussions to gain clarity on the federation’s financial position.
The forum highlighted that WTT recorded its first-ever profit in 2024, contributing to the ITTF Group’s consolidated profit of USD 1.5 million. This development represents the outcome of the federation’s strategy to professionalise and commercialise table tennis.
Delegates raised questions about the timeline for profitability and sought clarification on how this milestone fits within the original projections. The achievement came within the 2021-2024 quadrennial forecast approved by the ITTF Annual General Meeting.
The financial presentations showed commercial and events revenue growth from 16 million USD in 2019 (pre-COVID) to over 52 million USD in 2024. Delegates sought details on the sustainability of this growth trajectory and the factors driving the increase.
Questions were also raised about the ITTF reserves, which remain at USD 6.8 million, with delegates seeking clarity on reserve management policies and future allocation strategies.
The forum explored how this success was achieved through strategic positioning rather than chance. By creating the right platform, the ITTF was ready to capitalise on the unprecedented momentum table tennis experienced, translating sporting success into commercial value.
Looking ahead to 2025, the presentations outlined the foundation for continued profitability, including a full calendar of events featuring four Grand Smashes, strategic optimisation of recurring events, and ongoing improvements in commercial rights monetisation.
Delegates actively participated in discussions while the leadership addressed their concerns, explaining the complexities involved in restructuring value-in-kind agreements with WTT investors, reclassification of assets, and transition to PwC as the new auditing firm.
The Finance Forum emphasised that WTT’s success belongs to the entire table tennis family. As WTT continues to grow, focus will turn to ensuring achievements are shared, reinvested, and redistributed to strengthen the sport globally and reward those at its heart.
The session provided an opportunity for delegates to examine the financial statements and engage in discussions about the federation’s strategic direction. With questions addressed and clarifications provided, the forum contributed to ongoing dialogue about table tennis’s financial future. The ITTF Summit 2025 continues tomorrow with the Governance and Sustainability Session, featuring special guest Francesco Ricci Bitti, Former ASOIF President and Honorary IOC Member.
