Tokyo will be hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, despite growing public excitement, study shows only 1% of Japanese watch Paralympic Games as these sports still struggle to gain media coverage and audience.

It is a global challenge facing many para-sports committees and athletes, including our client, Japan Para Table Tennis Association.

Among the reasons for the general lack of interest in Paralympic Games, are that people don’t relate to the challenges faced by para-athletes, and therefore don’t fully appreciate the immense skill involved in competing.

To raise awareness of para table tennis and para-sport in general, in a reality where Paralympic Games are regarded secondary or largely ignored, we felt the need to bring a new perspective for spectators, by communicating the appeal through an innovative method that facilitate an authentic understanding of the sport.

The ‘Para Pingpong Table’ is a collection of pingpong tables in various shapes that highlight the unique challenges experienced by para-athletes. It is produced as part of a campaign to raise awareness of para table tennis and para-sport for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games.

Para table tennis is a diverse sport in which athletes of various disability classes compete. These tables were designed based on interviews and sketches from members of the Japanese National Team, who were asked to describe the shapes of the table as they ‘experience’ it, to help us visualize and comprehend what it is like to compete as a disabled player.

The 'Para Pingpong Table' replicates the world seen through the athletes’ eyes and lets us experience it in a positive way, serving as a new intuitive communication tool to better inform people about the athletes’ unique challenges and triumphs, adding greater depth for spectators.

Despite growing public excitement for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Paralympic sports still struggle to gain media coverage and audience. One reason is that most people don’t relate to the challenges faced by para-athletes, and therefore don’t fully appreciate the immense skill involved in competing.

We felt the need to bring a new perspective for spectators by communicating the appeal of para-sports through an innovative tool that facilitate an authentic understanding of the sport.

The strategy is to have people "experience" the perspective of para-athletes in an entertaining and positive way, without forcibly restricting mobility which is often an uncomfortable experience that focuses on the disability. Instead, we want people to notice the athlete’s exceptional ability and creativity, and foster renewed respect for para-athletes. The experience will add greater depth for spectators to enjoy the sport in a new perspective.

Among 20 unique shapes, a total of 3 tables are produced, each representing a different athlete. We turned a familiar shaped pingpong table into something unexpected and iconic, that is fully functional but also has a beautiful visual impact.

These tables are professionally developed in cooperation with the manufacturer of the official model for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and meet the international competition standards in its quality to achieve the full experience of the competitive game.

They have been used at live events where an Olympic player played against a Paralympian, displayed at commercial facilities and schools for everyone to experience, and continues to draw public/media attention to spread the appeal of para-sports as well as to foster renewed respect for para-athletes.

Below are the current results and achievements.

92% of those who experienced the table responded that they now want to go and watch a para table tennis match, as well as other para-sport games.

Over the last 4 months, we gained a total of 1.1 billion impressions across 450 media both in Japan and overseas.

Social media engagement skyrocketed to +200%, while the number of people who experienced the table (currently 3,000) is increasing every day.

The head of Japan Sports Agency, Rio Olympic gold medalists, and noted politicians experienced the table and voiced their support.

We are currently carrying out tours across Japan in response to many schools and businesses interested in experiencing the table.

The table has now become an “official exhibition content” for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic committee to use in their programs.