In March 2013 the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced that Japanese table tennis manufacturer San-Ei were the official table tennis table provider for the 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Following a bidding process, San-Ei were the successful bidder and they replaced Chinese company DHS (Double Happiness Sports) who supplied the official table tennis tables for London 2012.

Following the agreement, the ITTF President, Adam Sharara, said...

"The bidding for the Table for the 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was the most competitive since I became ITTF President.

It would seem that being the Table supplier for the Olympics has increased in value tremendously, as table manufacturers compete to get this prestigious right. The ITTF is delighted that San-Ei of Japan is the successful bidder for Rio 2016. San-Ei's reputation as a world class table manufacturer is well known.

San-Ei has also sponsored World Championships before, so it's no surprise that San-Ei has the confidence to provide to the ITTF and Rio 2016 a unique design, whilst maintaining top quality."

The deal will see San-Ei provide all the competition and practice tables for the table tennis event Games of the XXXI Olympiad and the 15th Paralympic Games, which will both be held at the Riocentro pavilion.

San-Ei President, Shin Miura, said...

"All of us at San-Ei are proud of being selected as the official table supplier for Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We are sure our fantastic tables will be a perfect fit for not only the first Olympic and Paralympic games in South America, but also fast growing table tennis family in Brazil, which is one of the fasting growing table tennis areas in the world. We promise to do everyone proud."

The table design, which promised to be revolutionary, was released in early 2016.

Following the announcement about the table tennis table provider, the official supplier of the table tennis balls for Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was also announced.

ITTF President, Adam Sharara, said...

"Our long time partner, Double Happiness Sports (DHS), will be the ball provider, so we are sure that both companies, San-Ei and DHS, will ensure top quality equipment for top performance by the athletes."

On 8 November 2013 the International Table Tennis Federation's marketing arm, TMS International announced that Tinsue were the official sports floor supplier for the table tennis event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

This followed the announcement in February that the Chinese company will also be the official sports floor supplier to the table tennis event at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.

It will be the second Olympic Games in a row that the world's best table tennis players will play on Tinsue floor covering, because they also supplied the floor covering for London 2012.

London 2012 was the first major table tennis event with a sky blue floor, and the ITTF will again work with Tinsue and the Rio Organising Committee to create a memorable floor colour for Rio 2016.

The agreement, which is made up of a substantial cash component and value-in-kind equipment, also includes the 2014-2016 World Tour Grand Finals, the 2015 World Team Cup and the Continental events in Latin America, Oceania, Africa and North America until 2016.

Commenting on the announcement...

ITTF President, Adam Sharara, said...

"The ITTF is extremely pleased that it could renew its agreement with Tinsue as the official sports floor supplier to the table tennis event at Rio 2016.

The 2012 London Games were the debut for Tinsue and the sports floor received a great reception from all players.

I am very pleased that Tinsue is also sponsoring our continental events. This proves that Tinsue is not only interested in selling products, but also very interested in the development of our sport."

Tinsue CEO, Zhang Zhen, said...

"We are happy to have this opportunity to again cooperate with the ITTF. We first started our relationship in 2009 at the World Team Cup, and it is our great honour to continue helping the ITTF host successful events, such as London 2012."

Anders Thunstrom, Managing Director of TMS International who brokered the deal, said...

"We have been able to find a win-win situation with Tinsue and to extend the partnership until 2016, strengthening the relationship between us for ITTF World Title events."