ITTF president, Petra Sörling, completed a 10-day official visit to America, to work on important activities for the development of sport on the continent.
The visit combined Grassroots events, involvement in the table tennis community and high-level meetings with important sports authorities in the region.
President Sörling, invited by the ITTF-Americas director, attended the ITTF-Americas 2025 General Meeting, which was held in Antigua, Guatemala, on Saturday 6 September 2025.
President Sörling addressed the representatives of the member associations present, congratulated Mr. Juan Vila, ITTF-Americas President and her executive Council for the smooth leadership of the AGM. The representatives noted an ITTF presentation about sustainability and ITTF Foundation initiatives, and the host cities for the ITTF-America events from 2026 were decided.
In 2025, the ITTF Americas General Meeting participated during the Pan American U-11 and U-13 Championships, where the youngest talents of the continent showed their passion and skill. President Sörling praised this decision by the ITTF -America, which “allowed the representatives of the members’ associations to witness and support the future stars of the table tennis”.
The ITTF President was used for the opportunity to visit Guatemala, received on 4 September in Guatemala City by Mr Gerardo Aguirre, president of the Guatemala NOC, and Mrs. Claudia Rivera, member of the Guatemala NOC. Later, on 5 September, the major of Antigua, Guatemala, Mr. Juan Manuel Asturias, President Sörling in the town hall of Antigua.
President Sörling was also invited to the ITTF -America Executive Board, held on 5 September, and was given the opportunity to communicate with various presidents and representatives of member associations.
After the events in Guatemala, President Sörling continued her visit to America with an official visit to the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Luis Mejia, President of Centro Caribe Sports and IOC member, received the ITTF and ITTF-Americas delegation on 9 September, with discussions about the ITTF-Americas Academy, who wants to open in 2026 in the facilities of Parque del Este, built for the American Middle Games Pan, and that was under 3, and that was left for the Ren american Games and that Caribbean games 2026. Potential collaborations of both institutions, which will celebrate their respective centuries in 2026.
Mr Garibaldi Bautista, president of the Dominican Republic of NOC, also received President Sörling in the NOC building of the Dominican Republic on the same day. The concept of the ITTF-Americas Academy was further discussed together with Mr. Gary Hernandez, president of the Dominican Republic of Table Tennis Federation and NOC Executive Board member.
On September 10, Jose P. Monegro, president of the organizing committee for the XXV Central American and Caribbean competitions in 2026, received President Sörling. Discussions were held around the renovations that were made in the tennis location of Parque del Este, which will not only prepare the facilities for the 2026 edition of the Games, but also for the kick -off of the Tennis Academy.
The visit was completed with a visit to the honorable Mr. Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sport and Recreation of the Dominican Republic. The meeting was in abundance at the most important aspect of the renovation of the infrastructure of Parque del Este Table Tennis location to ensure that it is suitable for hosting the ITTF-Americas Academy.
Honorable Mr. Majin Diaz, Minister of Finance of the Dominican Republic, also greeted President Sörling and discussed about table tennis, a sport he still practices today.
The key figures of the private sector, such as Mr. Felipe Vicini, Creso President, and Ramon Hipolito Mejia, also met the ITTF president and completed a very fruitful visit to the continent.
The visit underlined the continuous dedication of ITTF to keep table tennis ahead in all regions of the world, combining the delivery of events, institutional cooperation and the development of young people as growth pillars.
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