Table Tennis

... venues are alive with the fast action and the excitement of simultaneous competitions. High speed and quick reactions are evident in all divisions of the competitions as players use world-class techniques despite physical disabilities. Table tennis competitions take two forms in the Paralympic Games - standing and wheelchair events. Singles, team, and open men's and women's events are included in the program. Athletes from all disability classes participate and compete in one of ten classes. These classes are based on the athlete's disability. Paralympic table tennis competitions are governed by the rules set out by the International Table Tennis Federation, with slight modifications for wheelchair athletes. All matches are played best of three games to 21.

In addition to the Paralympics, World Championships for table tennis are staged every four years. Athletes also compete in regional championships, such as the European Games, the Pan American Games, the Pan African Games, the Far East Games, and other top-class tournaments. Table tennis is a truly international sport - it is played in over 50 countries worldwide at all levels.