*This content was translated by AI.
The organizing committee of the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships is speeding up preparations for the competition through cooperation with local companies.
The organizing committee (co-chairman Kim Hong-kyu, Lee Tae-sung, hereinafter referred to as the organizing committee) announced on the 10th that it signed an official sponsorship agreement with Saimdang, a traditional liquor manufacturer based in Gangneung, on April 8th.
The signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of the resignation party. Key officials attended, including Hyun Jung-hwa, executive chairman of the organizing committee, Vice-President Cho Yong-soo, Kim Eun-mi, chairman of the resignation party, and Kwon Oh-gil, mastermind.
This agreement is an example of international sports events and local representative companies joining hands. The organizing committee said, "It is expected to serve as an opportunity to promote local culture and industry to the world through the competition. In particular, traditional liquor, including "Gangneung Soju," the representative product of the Saimdang, will be introduced to table tennis lovers from all over the world during the competition. It also adds meaning in terms of "expanding local brands through sports."
Hyun Jung-hwa, chairman of the executive committee, said, "We are happy to introduce traditional liquor representing Gangneung to table tennis players around the world," adding, "The organizing committee is currently recruiting various marketing partners. With this agreement, we would like to create a competition in which more companies and institutions participate together," he said.
In response, Kim Eun-mi, chairman of the resignation party, said, "It is very meaningful to be with the XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships. I hope that the Saimdang, which started in Gangneung, will meet with table tennis players around the world and promote the value of Korean traditional liquor through Gangneung Soju," he added.
The XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships will be held in Gangneung for eight days from June 5 to 12. It is a global event where table tennis lovers over the age of 40 will participate to compete and share their skills. In particular, it is meaningful as a symbolic event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Along with Hyun Jung-hwa, the executive chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Legend, ITTF Chairman Petra Söring also announced his intention to participate as a player, further raising the international status of the competition.
With this agreement, the organizing committee plans to further expand cooperation with local companies while focusing on promoting Gangneung's culture, industry, and tourism resources to the world through the competition.
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*This content was translated by AI.
