Left to right)-Mr. G. J. Ross (England), Hon. I. G. S. Montagu (President. English T.T.A.). Dr. Lehmann (Chair-man, German man T.T.A.). Dr. Dr. Jacobi (Hungary), (Hungary) Mr. W. J. Pope (Hon. Sec. English T.T.A.). Herr Gruber (Hon. Sec. International T.T. Federation). The Treasurer (German T.T.A.). Herr Zoltan Mechlowitz (Hungary). Herr Wilhelm (German German T.T.A.), and Herr Freudenheim (Austria)
On this day a century ago, representatives from Austria, England, Germany and Hungary gathered in Berlin for a meeting that would change table tennis history.
It was Saturday, 16 January 1926, and the decision was made: form a “Provisional International Table Tennis Federation” and hold the formal foundation meeting at the proposed 1926 European Championships.
Ivor Montagu, the newly named Chair of the English Table Tennis Association, and Bill Pope, Secretary, stepped forward with an offer: England would host.
The English Table Tennis Association was hesitant. Hosting an international tournament was a financial risk, and there were no guarantees.
But Montagu, just 22 years old, made a promise that would prove pivotal: he would personally cover all possible losses up to £300 (approximately £23,500 in today’s money). In the end, the actual loss proved half the guaranteed amount.
To further reduce expenses, Montagu’s mother, Lady Swaythling, donated what would become one of the sport’s most iconic prizes: the men’s team trophy.
In Berlin, it had been agreed to invite Austria, Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Sweden and Wales to become the original members of the ITTF.
The main aim was to organise a men’s team event, though men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles would also be staged.
One hundred years on from that meeting in Berlin, the vision of those pioneers has grown into a global family of 227 member associations, spanning every continent.
The ITTF they founded has become one of the world’s largest international sports federations, with table tennis a cornerstone of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
And in 2026, the story comes full circle: the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals return to London, the birthplace of both the Federation and the World Championships, from 28 April to 10 May.
From a bold decision made in Berlin on 16 January 1926 to a global celebration 100 years later, the journey of table tennis continues.
ITTF