Gangneung City Registers Over 3,000 Participants from 70 Countries for World Masters Table Tennis Championships, Heralding a Global Festival

Gangneung City in Gangwon Province announced that the "XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships" is becoming a global sports festival with participation from recreational athletes around the world.

A view of Gangneung City Hall.

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According to the city, a total of 3,031 participants have registered so far, including 2,491 athletes and 540 accompanying persons. Approximately 92% of all participants are international, coming from 70 countries, so recreational athletes from diverse nations are expected to visit Gangneung. By country, Germany has the largest number of participants with 391, followed by balanced participation from Japan, India, China, Poland, France, Mongolia, and others.

The number of domestic participants stands at 259, highlighting a participant structure centered on overseas attendees and further solidifying the event's status as an international competition. In particular, as registration continues from all over the world including Asia, Europe, and the Americas, Gangneung is being recognized as a hub city for international exchanges in recreational sports.

The city expects that the event will not only serve as a platform for cultural exchange through sports, but also have positive effects on local tourism and economic revitalization.

Choi Sangbo, head of the city's sports division, stated, "This competition, which brings together participants from various countries, will be more than just a sporting contest; it will be a festival for understanding and exchanging cultures. We will do our utmost to ensure the successful operation of the event so that both participants and visitors are fully satisfied."

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