To celebrate the centenary year of the World Team Table Tennis Championships, ten special edition tables have been installed across the capital by Table Tennis England and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), in partnership with the Central London Alliance’s London Sports Festival.

The Centenary Tables Programme will run April to July, offering Londoners and visitors a unique opportunity to pick up a bat and join the celebration.

With less than a week until the World Championships commence at the Copper Box Arena on Tuesday 28 April, China Merchants Bank has been officially announced as a founding partner of the Centenary Tables Programme bringing table tennis to the streets of London.

In alignment with the initiative, China Merchants Bank is directly supporting the installation at Island Gardens. This specific location offers players a stunning riverside setting, situated just a stone’s throw from the Thames with panoramic views of the historic Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich and the Cutty Sark.

London 2026 marks a historic homecoming for the sport, 100 years after the inaugural World Championships were held in the city. While the world’s elite players and nations compete for the title of World Team Champions, the Centenary Tables Programme ensures the spirit of the game reaches every corner of London.

Sally Lockyer, CEO Table Tennis England, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome China Merchants Bank as a founding partner of the Centenary Tables Programme, an initiative delivered through Table Tennis England’s unique partnership with Central London Alliance. Partnerships like these are vital in bridging the gap between world-class elite competition and grassroots participation, ensuring that the legacy of London 2026 reaches every Londoner.”

“London is the spiritual home of table tennis, and returning for this centenary milestone is a poetic moment for the sport. By activating public spaces like Island Gardens thanks to China Merchants Bank and Central London Alliance, we aren’t just celebrating our history—we are inviting the next generation of players to help write the story of our second century.”

Heng Zhang, General Manager of China Merchants Bank London Branch, said: 

“As CMB London Branch marks its 10th anniversary this year, we are immensely proud to support the Centenary Tables Programme as a founding partner. Table tennis holds a special place in Chinese culture as our national sport, and this partnership connects that heritage with London’s historic role as the birthplace of the Championships.

“Our support for this programme is a natural expression of the values of community engagement and corporate social responsibility that we champion as an organisation, and we look very much forward to seeing Londoners of all ages enjoy the table at Island Gardens and share in the spirit of this remarkable centenary celebration.”