00:00Moving on to a keynote session now entitled ITTF, a new business model.
00:06In just a few moments, we'll be welcoming ITTF's president, Petra Sohling.
00:12But first, maybe a little bit of background information about Petra.
00:17She's one of the only three women presidents of an international federation.
00:21She's been a very strong advocate for gender equality in sports.
00:26She has worked actually tirelessly to promote equal opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials, while also prioritizing sustainable growth.
00:38Today, she's going to actually talk to us about how the ITTF has transformed its traditional business model to maximize
00:45the commercial potential of table tennis.
00:50Her innovation strategies have reshaped the sports landscape and opened up new avenues for growth.
00:57Her words are always inspirational.
01:01Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Petra Sohling.
01:14Thank you very much for being with us, Petra.
01:17Take your stage.
01:19I'll leave it over to you.
01:22Thank you very much.
01:24Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
01:27Thank you for joining me today.
01:31International Table Tennis Federation, 100-year-old federation, almost, with 227 member associations.
01:41What have we explored in our goal to also explore and continue the growth of the future of sports?
01:49This is the story I like to tell you today.
01:54I want to share with you the remarkable journey of the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF, and our creation of
02:02our own commercial entity, World Table Tennis, or WTT, as we used to say.
02:10This bull step has actually made a big change in sport and set up a new standard for the industry.
02:16We find ourselves in a time where new business forces are investing in sport like never before.
02:25The monopoly of sport organizations once enjoyed during the 20th century is being challenged by major investors.
02:33We have seen yet another major example just last week, and we probably still do not fully grasp the impact
02:42and the aftershocks this will have.
02:44This is the future of sport, and table tennis has anticipated and taken proactive measures since 2017.
02:54In 2017, the ITTF made a groundbreaking decision.
02:59It took back all its rights.
03:01Instead of relying on agencies to monetize its rights, the ITTF paved the way for a shift in its business
03:10model.
03:10At the heart of this decision was the realization that, as an international federation, the ITTF had limitations.
03:20It foresaw the arrival of major investors and other financial businesses' forces interested in table tennis.
03:28To remain immune from these forces, the ITTF needed to build its property into a strong for-profit intellectual property,
03:39capable of competing with other major sporting IPs and attracting potential investment from key stakeholders.
03:47And so, World Table Tennis was born.
03:50In 2020, the ITTF incorporated a commercial entity to reshape the sport's future.
03:58Let's take a look at how this new structure, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, has propelled table tennis
04:06to new heights.
04:09Welcome to World Table Tennis.
04:12We have a bit of history to bring you here.
04:13The biggest stars in the world are here.
04:16Table Tennis continues to captivate, inspire, and revolutionize in ways never seen before.
04:22Infinity Arena. Game on.
04:25No, this is just too good.
04:27This is what we love to see in World Table Tennis.
04:31The show continues out here.
04:33Beautiful, shiny, sparkling city.
04:35The crowd has shown up.
04:37All right, it's going up a notch now.
04:41But he's got nothing.
04:43One Manu driven to the ground in that point.
04:47This is the drama that World Table Tennis provides.
04:51I think that's the best we've seen so far.
04:53What's about that?
04:59This is the future of professional table tennis.
05:03Of course, this transition was not without its obstacles.
05:08Shaking up an organization with nearly a century of history cannot be accomplished overnight.
05:15We had to convince opponents and some still remain.
05:19We had to gain the support of our members and ongoing effort.
05:23And most importantly, we had to perform continually demonstrating the proof of concept to everyone involved.
05:31Despite these challenges, World Table Tennis emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever.
05:38Even with only a half calendar of events, WTT generated 50% more revenue in 2022 than ITF did in
05:482019 before the pandemic.
05:51This commercial entity has managed to change the sports presentation and elevate table tennis to the next level.
05:59One key aspect of World Table Tennis is its business structure.
06:04It operates with a for-profit oriented mindset focusing on generating sustainable revenue streams.
06:13With a mandate from the Federation to manage all rights, WTT has introduced new official professional table tennis series of
06:22events.
06:23Captured corporate partners, interest and successfully attracted investors.
06:29In conclusion, the ITF's creation of World Table Tennis marks a turning point in the future of our sport.
06:39By embracing a new business model and cutting out intermediaries, table tennis has positioned itself as a formidable player in
06:48the industry.
06:48We continue to overcome challenges, gain support and deliver exceptional performances to solidify the proof of concept.
07:01As we navigate in the ever-evolving landscape of sport business, let us remember the lessons learned from the ITF's
07:11journey.
07:12Embracing reforms, innovations, collaborations will be the key to unlocking new opportunities and securing a prosperous future for the international
07:24sports federations.
07:25Embracing reforms, innovations, innovations, change or be changed.
07:28Thank you.
07:50Petra, vous avez terminé un peu earlier than I expected,
07:52c'est bien.
07:53Merci beaucoup pour cette expérience de talk,
07:56et c'est assez exceptionnel,
07:58mais je vais m'inviter des jeunes sportsmakers
08:00à venir sur ce stage pour nous.
08:02Donc, je vais m'inviter straight away Anna et Chloé.
08:05Come et nous on stage,
08:06pour nous donner un round of applause.
08:07Pour les jeunes sportsmakers,
08:10je vais m'inviter à vous.
08:11Petra, je vais m'inviter à vous pour cette partie,
08:14si c'est OK.
08:15Je vais m'inviter à vous,
08:17où vous voulez.
08:18Petra, peut-être dans le milieu.
08:20Oui, c'est probablement une meilleure idée.
08:22C'est bien, c'est bien.
08:23Merci à vous.
08:25Merci à vous.
08:26a great talk here.
08:28Obviously,
08:28our young sportsmakers, Petra,
08:30have been here,
08:31and everybody in the room,
08:32and all of you watching us from a distance.
08:33Our young sportsmakers are here to challenge,
08:37and to listen to all the leaders that are talking here,
08:41at the Global Sports Week,
08:43and sort of bring up different subjects.
08:45So, over to you ladies,
08:46who would like to go first?
08:48I will go first.
08:49Can you present yourself first of all?
08:52So, I imagine that for an international federation,
08:55launching a new entity like World Table Tennis
08:57requires a great amount of money.
08:59So, were you supported by investment funds,
09:02for example?
09:03How did you do?
09:06Well, when we started,
09:08we felt that we were quite bold and brave,
09:12and we trusted that we had a product that really was attractive.
09:17And we went ahead,
09:19and we found out that there was investors out there being very interested,
09:23and already now we work with one investor,
09:26and we hope to work with more.
09:27But, of course, we still have the power, the majority.
09:33So, we will keep the majority within the federation.
09:35At the same time,
09:37as we also like to work closely with our investors,
09:40so that it's not short-term return of investment,
09:43it's long-term sustainable business.
09:45And so far, we are very, very happy with the outcome,
09:49and looking forward to continue now,
09:52when we still work with a full calendar of events.
09:56After the pandemic,
09:57it took some time,
09:58but it looks very promising.
10:01Wonderful.
10:02So, the good news there.
10:03Promising, promising future ahead.
10:05You have another question, Chloe?
10:08Yes.
10:09Anna.
10:10Anna, excuse-moi.
10:11You started in the wrong order in my sheet,
10:13so, yeah, go for it.
10:15First of all,
10:16thank you so much for having us here on stage.
10:18If you allow me to introduce myself briefly for the context.
10:23I'm Anna.
10:24I work for EU athletes,
10:28which is a federation of players and athletes associations
10:32across a wide range of sports in different European countries.
10:38So, my question to you is regarding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the launch of this new commercial
10:48entity.
10:48Can you please elaborate a little bit on that?
10:51Thank you.
10:52It's actually a very good question.
10:54As you heard in my speech before,
10:56that we took back the rights in 2017.
11:00And the plan was to launch World Table Tennis in 2020.
11:04But, as we all know, something came in between.
11:07But, in this case, if I may say something positive with the pandemic,
11:12it was for us in regards to our launch of World Table Tennis,
11:16because it gave us some time.
11:18This is a very big change.
11:19And it gave us some time to take it step by step and learn by doing it.
11:24So, for us, actually, the pandemic was positive in regards to the launching of WTT.
11:32Of course, when it all started in 2020,
11:35we felt that, well, we were bold and we were brave and we were waiting for something exciting.
11:40We have to wait a little bit longer.
11:43But, when we were launching it, we were better prepared.
11:46Thank you.
11:48Thank you.
11:48Wonderful.
11:49Any more questions, ladies?
11:52We have time if you'd like to ask any more questions.
11:54Wonderful.
11:55Go for it.
11:55I'm glad to continue then.
11:57Go for it.
11:59Yeah.
12:00Can you also tell us a bit more about the benefits that are not necessarily business-related,
12:07that this new structure brought to the International Table Tennis Federation?
12:14It's a very good question.
12:16I mean, normally, as an International Table Tennis Federation,
12:19the event part is, of course, a big and important part.
12:23But, by taking that out and putting that in our for-profit company, World Table Tennis,
12:29in the IHCF, in the Federation, we have so many other areas where we can focus and improve.
12:34We are working hard on sustainability, safeguarding for the athletes,
12:39as well as improve in good governance, which is, today, a housekeeping matter.
12:45But, still, when it was new, we had to set up new standards.
12:49And, I would say that it helped for us that we made it more clean and focused
12:53to have the business and the event in World Table Tennis and the rest in the traditional context
12:59in the organization of the IHCF.
13:02That's clear now. Thank you.
13:04Thank you very much.
13:05Wonderful.
13:06Are you girls happy?
13:09Wonderful.
13:09Wonderful.
13:09Petra, thank you so much for being with us today.
13:13Very important participation for us here at Global Sports Weekend at VivaTech.
13:17Thank you again.
13:18And, thank you to our young sportsmakers who are working very hard over the next two days,
13:24two days to go, two and a half days to go,
13:27intervening in all the different conferences and asking all those questions
13:31that are essential for the future of sports and for the younger generations.
13:37Thank you very much.
13:38Thank you very much.
13:38Thank you very much.
13:38Merci.
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