ITF World Participation Conference 2024: 'Tennis, the sport for life'
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) hosted the 2024 ITF World Participation Conference (WPC) in Hong Kong and for the first time it was held alongside the ITF Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The WPC brought together influential voices from around the globe and is now accessible in English, French, and Spanish via the ITF Academy platform. This WPC highlights the increasing significance of participation initiatives on a global scale.
The WPC serves as a premier platform for leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss evolving strategies and successes in expanding sports participation. Since its inception in London in 2018, the WPC has become a central event in promoting tennis participation, aligning with the ITF’s mission to advance the sport worldwide. The conference empowers stakeholders to implement strategic plans that enhance access and engagement in tennis.
Delegates from 131 nations gathered at this year’s WPC under the theme, ‘Tennis, the Sport for Life.’ This theme set the stage for dynamic discussions and emphasised the ITF’s vision of positioning tennis as an inclusive, lifelong activity for all demographics.
Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Mark Woodforde, the event opened with ITF CEO Kelly Fairweather emphasising the importance of expanding tennis participation as a key part of the ITF global strategy.
The conference included five primary topics that addressed different facets of this goal, providing comprehensive insights into innovative solutions for increasing participation rates globally.
1. Tennis, the Sport for Life:
Dr, Brian Hainline, President of the USTA, and an expert panel discussed the lifelong benefits of the sport and ways to maintain tennis participation across ages.
2. Tennis for all:
Mark Eade, Hong Kong China Tennis Association and Sun Wen Bing, Chinese Tennis Association, shared efforts to make tennis accessible across urban and rural areas.
3. Gender Equality and Inclusion:
Vicki Reid, Tennis Australia, Torgun Smith, Guam National Tennis Federation, and Cristy Campbell, Guyana Lawn Tennis Association illustrated the role of women in driving growth and diversity in tennis.
4. Role Models Boost Participation:
A global panel explored how role models and prominent, national champions can drive widespread participation.
5. Digitalising Participation:
Speakers from Mozambique, Colombia, Sweden, and the Netherlands showcased digital tools, like the World Tennis Number, as fundamental in modernising engagement.
The WPC 2024 presentations are available for viewing in English, French, and Spanish through the ITF Academy. Interested viewers must be registered ITF Academy users to access the recordings and can sign up to watch the on-demand sessions on the ITF platform.
The World Participation Conference continues to be a pioneering forum for the global tennis community to connect, learn, and advance the shared mission of growing participation. By engaging with innovative ideas, best practices and the expertise of leaders from various sectors, the ITF and its partners are making significant strides toward a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable future for tennis.