*This content was translated by AI.
The "XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships," the world's largest daily sports table tennis competition to be held in Gangneung in June 2026, has entered a full-fledged preparation stage.
The organizing committee (co-chairman Kim Hong-kyu, Lee Tae-sung, hereinafter referred to as the organizing committee) announced on the 10th, "We held a media briefing day at Gangneung City Hall on April 9 and officially shared the outline of the competition, preparation status, and operation plan."
The briefing was designed to examine the main preparations ahead of the opening, which is two months away, while explaining the meaning and expected effects of the competition.
The competition will be held for eight days from June 5 to 12 at Gangneung Olympic Park (Speed Skating Stadium, Gangneung Arena). It is an international sports competition where those over the age of 40 can participate regardless of nationality. Five events, including men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, will be divided into five-year-old age groups.
As of March 31, about 3,000 participants, including athletes and companions, will be registered, and it is expected to be the best Masters table tennis tournament with participation from more than 100 countries. In addition to Hyun Jung-hwa, the executive chairman of the organizing committee, who is the first registered player in the competition, many hobbyists representing living table tennis in Korea are preparing to participate.
At the briefing, Executive Chairman Hyun Jung-hwa said, "This Gangneung competition was designed as a participatory sports festival with table tennis players from all over the world, beyond just the center of the game," adding, "We will use the Olympic Heritage Stadium and introduce a new type of international sports event that combines local culture and tourism."
In fact, this competition is differentiated from existing sports competitions in that it aims for a stay-at-home international event that combines "Gyeonggi + Tourism + Culture." Programs linked to local cultures such as Gangneung Dano Festival, tourism programs for participants and partners, and festival-type spaces using outdoor squares will be promoted together. Gangneung City and the organizing committee expect that it will serve as an opportunity to boost Gangneung's status as an international sports city, along with the effects of revitalizing the local economy, such as increased accommodation, food, and tourism consumption due to the influx of more than 3,000 visitors.
In addition, the competition will be designated as a major national event, establishing a safety management system in cooperation with related organizations such as police, fire, and medical services, and multi-layered safety measures such as emergency response systems and operation of general situation rooms in the stadium will also be promoted. The organizing committee plans to finalize the schedule of the game and build facilities, prepare for the opening and closing ceremonies and cultural programs, and complete overall preparations for operation until the opening of the competition.
The XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships expected to present a new model for international sports exchanges as well as domestic table tennis in terms of holding international competitions using Olympic heritage facilities and expanding the foundation for daily sports.
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*This content was translated by AI.
