It is World Table Tennis (WTT) – a commercial company owned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) – that takes the major economic risk with Europe Smash when Truls Möregårdh and other world players take place in Malmö arena 17–24 August.
It is clear that we invest a lot of manpower. It is what we have. Then we have very good support from Malmö city and Visit Skåne, but also Malmö arena with its experience and knowledge, says Thomas Buza, secretary general of the Swedish Table Tennis Association.
15 million in prize pot
Do you expect to make some money?
I do not expect that we will make any major economic surplus.
The Smash tournaments – four in number – are WTT's flagship on the world tour with nearly 15 million in total prize pot per tournament. Sweden will host the same tournament next year as well, but it is not yet nailed down that it will be in Malmö.
The association, which turns 100 years old in 2026, has the ambition to host major tournaments or championships every year in the future. In the near future, the team World Championship (2018) and team European Championship (2023) have been held in Halmstad and Malmö respectively.
We want to apply for the veteran World Championship to Sweden in 2028 and we want to apply for a regular World Championship (for teams) in 2030 for example. It is on the discussion table in Swedish table tennis, but then we compete with the whole world, says Buza and continues:
We do not get so much media space otherwise and I think the audience should also be able to see the Swedish stars on site in Sweden.
Tough competition
An advantage of world tour tournaments is that it is possible to sign longer agreements with WTT. For championships, you have to win the votes of the ITTF delegates at an annual meeting in competition with other candidates.
It really requires that some major city in Sweden steps forward and wants to be involved and host. Because you are competing with cities like Paris, Berlin, and London, says Thomas Buza.
The world tour tournament Europe Smash in table tennis is held in Malmö 17–24 August. It is played mainly in Malmö arena, but there are also matches in Baltiska hallen.
A total of 64 men and 64 women play the singles tournament. There are also doubles (both women and men) and mixed doubles with 24 pairs in each class.
The total prize pot is approximately 14.9 million kronor. The winners of the singles classes receive around 960,000 kronor in prize money.
