A team who took part in every match from 1 to 240 at ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN. A team who were there for every point. A team from countries around the world.

That’s the team of umpires who helped provide the level playing field for London 2026 across both the Copper Box Arena and OVO Arena Wembley.

Bringing together the highest level of officials from England and nations across the globe, the competition simply wouldn’t have been able to take place without them.

“We realised that they enabled our games and matches, and without them we wouldn’t be anywhere. And therefore, I want to give back,” are the words of Kim Mudge-Johnson, one of the Table Tennis England officials from London 2026.

“The most enjoyable part is actually sitting there watching. You’re there, you’ve got the best seat in the house, right there in front of everything that’s going on.”

Harry Juttle, another of the officials from the home nation to be in London, added: “I’d run my county teams and the counties are meant to provide umpires to umpire the matches, and we didn’t have any. So that was the reason I became an umpire.

“I think my first event was Liverpool 4*. I couldn’t believe the level of players there and really got hooked.”

There was also an English representative in the women’s team final, as Josh Reynolds took to the table. Find out more about his experience in our upcoming interview with him.

If you’re interested in becoming an official, check out the Level 1 Umpire courses coming up across the country.

The Level 1 Umpire course is the start of the journey for umpires. It’s the entry-level opportunity for umpires and referees, and will give you the key competencies to umpire local competitions.

Whether you have your eyes set on a World Championships or simply want to help make the experience of participants at your local events even better, umpiring is a great way to give back whilst being at the heart of the action.