Heavyweight sports agency Infront has partnered with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and now holds marketing rights for the World Table Tennis (WTT) commercial arm.
An eight-year agreement between the two parties has been unveiled today, through which Switzerland-based Infront becomes the worldwide lead agency for WTT's commercial development.
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The deal runs through 2034 and covers full marketing rights for the entire range of WTT events, including WTT Finals, Grand Smashes, WTT Champions, WTT Star Contender, and WTT Contender tournaments.
The ITTF's World Championships are not included at first, due to an existing deal between the governing body and the IMG agency which covers that event; however, they will be included once existing commercial commitments come to an end.
Infront will now be involved in defining the overall commercial strategy for the aforementioned portfolio of events, and will then lead the subsequent global partnership sales.
Securing worldwide partners for the WTT Series, as well as presenting partners for specific events.
Petra Sörling, president of the ITTF and chair of WTT, commented: "This partnership gives us a coordinated approach across the ITTF World Championships and the WTT Series and the ability to present brands with opportunities spanning our biggest events, markets and audiences. We look forward to working together to build long-term partnerships that support the continued growth of the sport worldwide.”
World Table Tennis was established in 2019 to modernize the ITTF's commercial approach.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the season-ending WTT Finals for 2026 will take place at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Arena.
Philippe Blatter, Infront's president and chief executive, added: "Together with WTT, we want to unlock the full potential of the sport, expanding its global reach, inspiring new generations of fans and creating even greater value for brands and partners."
In terms of rights activity over the last few months for Infront, mid-July saw the agency announce the extension of its long-standing commercial partnership with the International Luge Federation, through to the end of the sport's 2029-30 season.
The announcement marks almost 30 years of collaboration between FIL and Infront, a relationship that began in 1998 and has expanded from a traditional marketing agreement into a broad commercial and brand development tie-up.
