Gangneung Secures 780 Million Won in National Funding for 2026 World Masters Table Tennis Championships... Largest Support Nationwide

Gangneung City Selected for Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s
International Sports Event Support Project for Local Governments

The 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships, to be held in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province (Mayor Kim Hongkyu), has been selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "2026 International Sports Event Support Project for Local Governments" and has secured a national government subsidy of 780 million won, the largest amount of support nationwide.

Poster of the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships. Provided by Gangneung City

This selection was based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the plan to host the international event, organizational capabilities, and the expected impact on the local economy. As a result, 23 events in 13 cities and provinces, including the 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships, were chosen.

The 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships received high marks in the category of local economic revitalization, as it is an international event expected to attract around 4,000 participants, including enthusiasts and retired athletes from approximately 100 countries around the world.

An official from Gangneung City stated, "Building on our successful experience hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, we plan to successfully host the '2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships' in June 2026, as well as the World Table Tennis Youth Contender (WTT Youth Contender) and World Table Tennis Youth Star Contender (WTT Youth Star Contender) international competitions in September, thereby establishing Gangneung as a truly global city for international sports events."

The 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships will be held from June 5 to June 12, 2026, at Gangneung Olympic Park, including the Gangneung Speed Skating Arena and Gangneung Arena.