Sport MEC Welcomes Durban’s Hosting Of World Table Tennis Championships
Durban was announced as a successful bidder yesterday, Monday 28 September, following the 2020 annual general meeting of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) after a vote by Member Associations. It is an historic first time that the ITTF’s most prestigious event is being held in South Africa and the first time on the African continent since Cairo, Egypt, in 1939.
Durban received 90 votes (69.77%), beating the other candidate city, Düsseldorf, Germany, who won 39 votes (30.23%).
MEC Mavimbela said: “We wish to express our gratitude to the ITTF for entrusting Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with such an honourable task of hosting the world championships in 2023, and I am confident that we will be equal to the task as we have always demonstrated in hosting world class events. We thank all stakeholders who put shoulder to the wheel in putting together such a convincing bid that clearly demonstrated our ability and resolve to stage an exciting 2023 World Table Tennis Championship.
“The hosting of this tournament will definitely benefit the development of table tennis as a code in this country. We have already made great strides in making table tennis accessible to young people in townships and rural areas. This tournament will bring a sharp focus on this code and we will work with all stakeholders in ensuring that it leaves a lasting legacy which will assist in further developing our players especially those from rural areas,” said MEC Mavimbela.