Table Tennis in Metz

Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, was first patented in England at the end of the 19th century, before becoming a codified sport in the 1920s, with the creation of the French and International Federations and the organisation of the first international competitions.

With more than 210,000 members and around four million occasional players, the Fédération Française de Tennis de Table (FFTT) relies on a vast network of 3,493 clubs. In sporting terms, after excellent international results in the ‘90s (Olympic medal, world champion title, world team medal, etc.), the current French team is shining, placed in the top three Europeannations and the top six in the world, in the face of strong Asian domination, thanks in particular to the meteoric emergence of the Lebrun brothers (world no. 8 and 22) and Prithika Pavade, all aged under 20. This bodes well for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and beyond!

Team Relay in Metz, June 27.

Metz is a stronghold of French table tennis, particularly at women's level. The club has won the European Cup, been a finalist in the Champions League and has been Pro A champion five times in the last 10 years. The club, supported by the CD57 and the Grand Est league, has been organising the French Youth Internationals for 12 years and has a training centre with young international table tennis players. That is why the choice of this venue seemed obvious.

Our team Relay, led by Jean-Philippe Gatien, will enable all the Relay runners to be in action, showcasing the various forms of ping-pong, in singles and doubles, against a robot or in virtual ping-pong, with players from 13 to 73 years old.

For the first time in the history of the Games, each day of the Olympic Torch Relay and Paralympic Torch Relay, relay teams of 24 people, made up of champions, everyday athletes, volunteers, referees, coaches, etc. will be organized to spread the energy of sport and teamwork throughout the country.