From Seoul to Los Angeles (1988–2028): the 40-year evolution of Olympic table tennis

This study takes Olympic table tennis as its research object and systematically examines its 40-year evolutionary process from the 1988 Seoul Olympics to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, drawing on innovation diffusion theory, globalization theory, gender equality theory and critical modernity theory. The study finds that the technological standardization and equipment reforms of table tennis represent strategic interventions by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to enhance spectator appeal and balance global competitiveness. Adjustments to competition rules and event structures—including the 11-point scoring system, the replacement of doubles with team events, and the introduction of mixed doubles and mixed team events—reflect the Olympic Movement’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive development, and align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5). The global competitive pattern of table tennis has evolved from a core-periphery structure to limited multipolarity, yet it remains constrained by structural inequalities in training resources, knowledge transfer, and technological investment. The evolution of Olympic table tennis constitutes a microcosm of twenty-first-century sports modernity, demonstrating the adaptive transformation of the Olympic Movement under the influences of technological governance, commercial logic, and the global political economy. Finally, the study proposes future research directions concerning digital technology, mixed team events, and inclusive development.