ITTF opens new Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Singapore

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has moved its Asia-Pacific operations to a larger office on the 26th floor of the Gateway East building on Beach Road, Singapore.

The ITTF yesterday welcomed a number of guests and business partners to celebrate the occasion, which marks an exciting new chapter in ITTF history.

The Asia-Pacific Headquarters are the base for the ITTF’s Marketing, Media, Commercial Partnerships, Competitions and HR teams.

ITTF Chief Executive Steve Dainton stated "following an extraordinary 2018, this is the best possible way to kick off the new year, as we keep making our organisation more and more professional.

Dainton added "while the previous offices in Singapore have been very functional, we wanted to upgrade to something a bit more professional and corporate to fit in line with the new vision and more commercial approach that we want for the sport.

"We found it better to have our media, marketing and our competition staff all located in one spot and connected to the commercial business, which is largely centred on Asia.

"We are a core Olympic sport and have a very historical and long tradition as an international federation - since 1926, but we have to try to adapt in today's world, which is very much about business and commercial success for sport.

"This is the real shift we're trying to make - to go from being not just about rules and governance, but also to be very successful on the commercial side to see how we can merge those two."

Sportsmaster Chairman and the ITTF President’s Special Advisor for Commercial Affairs,  Frank Ji added “this modern, state-of-the-art office shows just how quickly the ITTF has grown in recent times.

“Collectively, we are very excited about what can be achieved now in terms of optimising commercial operations out of the Asia-Pacific Headquarters.”

With the world governing body due to start a bidding process next month for countries to host the new 'Home of Table Tennis', Ji blieves Singapore would "fit well" for the sport's new home.

Its headquarters is currently in Lausanne, Switzerland.

According to Dainton, the attributes that would make a city a good candidate include ease of travel, employment access for foreigners and a good business environment, all of which he feels apply to Singapore.

Image of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Chief Executive Steve Dainton and Sportsmaster Chairman, Mr Frank Ji, opening the ITTF's new Asia-Pacific Headquarters on 3rd January, 2019.