Special Rules of Table Tennis in Olympics Tokyo 2021

Table Tennis Olympics is the most prestigious tournament (Games of the XXXII Olympiad, Tokyo 2021). Therefore, there are some specific rules that you should know. Unlike the normal tournament, there are some different rules than the basic rules in table tennis.

Qualification Rules

There are limit of participants allowed in Olympic Games table tennis.

Here are the list of LIST OF QUALIFIED TEAMS for both Men and Women Team.

• There are only 16 teams that is qualified for the Table Tennis Olympics
• Each country with a qualified Men’s or Women’s Team will be entitled to nominate only two (2) athletes to compete in the Singles events.
• Maximum of one (1) team per country can participate. Even if some country is very strong in table tennis, like China.

Changes from Previous Olympics (Rio 2016/PyeongChang 2018)

There are also some modifications compared to the previous Olympics.

Clothing

One identification of the manufacturer will be permitted on Zippers and Buttons, and should appear in the same colour as the concerned item (i.e. tone on tone), as long as such identifications are deemed not conspicuous by the IOC.

Size and frequency of Authorised Identifications is modified.

Eyewear

Eyewear may carry the identification of the manufacturer as generally used on products sold through the retail trade during the period of 6 months or more prior to the Games, with the Identifications permitted on the lenses so long as such identifications are tone-on-tone, engraved into the lens, and is not deemed as conspicuous by the IOC.

Headgear

Additional option – Two Identifications of the Manufacturer per accessory item will be permitted, to a maximum size of 5 cm2 each, placed above each ear. One identification of the manufacturer per item, with a maximum size of 10 cm2.

Footwear

In principle, athletes’ names are not allowed on the footwear unless listed as a technical requirement in the sport specific implementation section or are found on shoes sold on the retail consumer market six (6) months prior to the Games.

Items That Must Remain Unbranded

Certain items, due in particular to their potential for abuse in the context of product placement or advertising on the Field of Play (FOP), should at all times remain unbranded and/or not feature any Identification (by covering any existing Identification) if brought by the participant on the FOP or in camera view.

Consequently, the following Items may not feature any Identification of the Manufacturer: headphones, water bottles, coolers, umbrellas, towels, bandages (i.e. kinesio tape), contact lenses, earplugs, mouth guards and nose clips. This list is an exemplary and non-exhaustive list and may be amended and completed when necessary by the IOC.

Paddle/Racket

Up to 3 Identifications of the Manufacturer will be permitted on the blade (one on each side and on the bottom of the grip), one Identification of the Manufacturer will be permitted on each rubber (embossed on the rubber as authorised by the ITTF), and one Identification of the Manufacturer, with a maximum length of 4cm, will be permitted
on racket side tape.

The total combined size of these Identifications of the Manufacturer shall not be greater than 10% of the surface area of the item, to a maximum total size of 60 cm2.

Here are some of the General Guidelines Regarding Authorised Identifications Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2021.

Qualification Rules system of table tennis in Olympics

Number of events

There are 5 events of table tennis in Olympics:

• Men’s Events (2): Singles, and Team
• Women’s Events (2): Singles, and Team
• Mixed Event (1): Mixed Doubles

ATHLETES QUOTA

• Men: 82 (Qualification Places) + 3 (Host Country Places) + 1 (Tripartite Commission Invitation Places)
• Women: 82 (Qualification Places) + 3 (Host Country Places) + 1 (Tripartite Commission Invitation Places)
• Total: 172

Maximum Number of Athletes per country:

• Men: 3
  – Maximum 1 Team of 3 athletes
  – Maximum 2 athletes in singles
  – Maximum 1 athlete in mixed doubles
• Women 3
  – Maximum 1 Team of 3 athletes
  – Maximum 2 athletes in singles
  – Maximum 1 athlete in mixed doubles
• Total: 6/ country

Team qualification:

• 6 Continental Team qualification with one team (3 athletes) per country
• 9 World Team qualification with one team (3 athletes) per country
• 1 Host Country (if not already qualified)
• Total = 16

Singles qualification:

• 32 With two (2) athletes nominated from each country with one qualified team.
• 22 Continental Singles qualification with a maximum of two (2) athletes from the same country
• 1 Tripartite Commission Invitation place
• 2-8 Not less than 2 and not more than 8 from the Final World Singles Qualifying Tournament
• 1-13 Minimum 1 from ITTF World Ranking
• Total = 64-70 With a maximum of two (2) athletes from the same country to participate in singles events

Olympic Table Tennis Scoring Rules

How many games in a match?

A match is the best of 7 games in the men’s and women’s individual events and the best of 5 games in the men’s and women’s team events. In team events, the first team to win 3 games is the overall winner.

Towel off and time out

You are allowed to wipe yourself off (towering) every 6 points during a match, such as 3-3, 6-6, 4-2, etc.

Each player (or double team) is authorized to claim 1 time-out of one minute maximum during a match.

You are allowed to a maximum rest period of 1 minute between matches. During this rest period, you must leave your racket on the table.

International Officials and Referee for Olympics Table Tennis

References:

• IOC Guidelines Table Tennis
• https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/

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