Sally Lockyer, CEO of Table Tennis England, will join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on an official government visit to China and Japan, starting today.
Sally is part of a government delegation visiting Beijing and Shanghai in China, before heading to Japan for a visit aimed at building business, sporting and cultural ties between the countries.
During the visit, Sally will promote the opportunities surrounding the upcoming centenary ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London to key political and commercial organisations.
Sally said: “The opportunity to accompany the Prime Minister and a high-level delegation on a visit of great importance is both a great honor and a unique opportunity.
“I look forward to connecting with the Chinese and Japanese table tennis communities, as well as political and business leaders, and sharing ideas on how to move the sport forward.
“The centenary of the World Championships in London, alongside other major events to be hosted by England in the near future, provides us with a huge opportunity to create a lasting impact in both performance and participation in table tennis, strengthening communities and promoting active lifestyles.”
London 2026 will not only provide a platform for the best table tennis athletes in the world, but will also have a major economic and social impact.
It is estimated that the Championships will have a direct economic contribution of at least £13 million, through ticket sales, spectator expenditure in the leisure and hospitality sectors and through expenditure on organizing the event. On top of that, there is a gross value added – a measure of the impact of an event on the economy – of almost £6 million.
The Championships, which are supported by financial investment from UK Sport and the Greater London Authority, will also support 151 jobs and create volunteer opportunities for more than 400 Team London Ambassadors and 25 additional sports technical volunteer positions.
Table Tennis England works with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and domestic partners to ensure the championships create lasting social and community impact.
Currently, more than 388,000 adults and 280,000 children play table tennis every week across England. Building on this strong foundation, the World Table Tennis Championships will deliver a lasting legacy of social impact, designed to grow the game further. Through targeted investment, community programs and increased visibility, Table Tennis England (TTE) expects participation to increase substantially by the end of 2026, allowing more people of all ages and backgrounds to access and enjoy the sport.
We are already seeing an increase in participation thanks to the interest in the World Championships and as a result of the Oscar-nominated table tennis film Marty Supreme.
As one of the most accessible and inclusive racket sports, table tennis offers extensive health and wellness benefits. It has been proven to support physical fitness, improve coordination and balance, and improve cognitive function, while also promoting mental well-being through social connection and fun.
The Championships’ social impact program will place a strong emphasis on inclusive participation, with initiatives designed to support underrepresented groups and people with long-term health conditions. This includes partnerships with organizations such as Parkinson’s UK, where table tennis has been shown to help improve mobility, reaction time and quality of life, demonstrating the sport’s ability to achieve meaningful and lasting social outcomes.
In addition to the Championships, a volunteer program will be offered, creating opportunities for staff skills and experience development, with a particular focus on involving young people from the London boroughs. This approach is designed to ensure that the event not only delivers sporting excellence, but also leaves a legacy of increased skills, confidence and community involvement.
About the Centenary World Championships
The ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships are hosted in London, the same city where the very first World Championships were held in 1926.
Subsequently, only seven countries took part in the men’s team event. Coming full circle 100 years later in London, 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams will compete in the biggest World Championships ever.
The Championships will be held at two iconic locations: OVO Arena Wembley and the Copper Box Arena and will take place from April 28 to May 10, 2026.
Tickets are on sale now, visit www.london-2026.co.uk for details.
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