Beijing, April 10
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has said the introduction of the mixed team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games "significantly enhances the Olympic table tennis program."
The decision was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the men's and women's doubles events are set to replace the men's and women's team events. The number of table tennis events at LA28 will be increased to six - men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and mixed team.
"This historic development significantly enhances the Olympic table tennis program," read a statement from the ITTF.
The mixed team event was first launched at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup held in Chengdu, China, in December 2023. For the ITTF, this innovative format brings men's and women's players together in combined teams, highlighting the sport's strong commitment to gender equality, integration, and teamwork.
"Its Olympic debut at LA28 promises to captivate fans worldwide, delivering an inclusive, dynamic, and strategically rich competition reflective of the sport's global appeal," the ITTF noted.
It also marks the return of the men's and women's doubles events to the Olympic table tennis program for the first time since Beijing 2008, where they were replaced by team events, reports.