In Japan, only 1% of the population watch Para sports. One reason these sports struggle to reach mainstream audiences is because people don\u2019t understand the challenges faced by individual athletes and therefore don\u2019t fully appreciate the immense skill involved to compete.<\/p>\n
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With the aim of helping people visualize and comprehend the challenges of paralympians, TBWA\\HAKUHODO has produced special ping pong tables for the Japan Para Table Tennis Association (JPTTA), exhibiting how some of their national athletes experience the sport.<\/p>\n
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There is a wide variation in the disabilities of individual athletes and therefore the physical obstacles faced by each player is different. Even while playing on the same rectangular table, the shape they feel as they move around the table is personally unique.<\/p>\n
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The \u2018PARA PINGPONG TABLE\u2019 replicates the world seen through the athletes\u2019 eyes and were designed based on interviews and sketches from members of the Japanese national team.<\/p>\n
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Created by TBWA\\HAKUHODO, the tables are part of a holistic rebrand for JPTTA \u00ad\u00ad\u2013 from developing a new name and logo, to designing and producing a dynamic new website concept.<\/p>\n
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The campaign also serves as a new intuitive communication tool that helps graphically profile players based on their perspective of the table. This better informs viewers about each athlete\u2019s unique challenges, adding greater depth for new spectators.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe aimed to create an icon that would make these athletes\u2019 differences, immediately appreciated with one look. I hope this profound twist on the traditional ping pong table will serve to embody the belief that \u2018abilities may be limited, but possibilities are unlimited\u2019 and enable para athletes to get the respect they deserve.\u201d said Masaya Asai, Senior Creative Director at TBWA\\HAKUHODO.<\/p>\n
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The PARA PINGPONG TABLES promote diversity and allow for better appreciation of the physical obstacles paralympians face every day in their pursuit of excellence in the sport. They are available to be rented by commercial facilities, event spaces, and schools that want to experience it.<\/p>\n
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PARA PINGPONG TABLE website (ENG): <\/p>\n PARA PINGPONG TABLE YouTube\uff1a <\/p>\n Japan Para Table Tennis Association website: <\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/jptta.or.jp\/para-pingpong-table\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/NwLZTlnCeho<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/jptta.or.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n