In an effort to encourage people of all ages to take responsibility for their own health and practice table tennis to reap the greatest health benefits, Antonine University (UA), represented by its Rector, Fr. Michel Jalakh, and the Lebanese Table Tennis Federation (LTTF), represented by its President, Mr. Georges Kopaly, have gladly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 13, 2023. This agreement aims to lay the groundwork for collaborative projects to promote exchange programs and a two-way interchange of experiences, skills, information, and knowledge; run coaching and officials’ seminars; perform strength and conditioning assessments; conduct research activities; and host interns in sports management and training.

Adapted table tennis coaching sessions intended for physical education school instructors have already been implemented and will be available for external participants on one of UA’s campuses (Hadat–Baabda, Mejdlaya–Zgharta, or Nabi Ayla–Zahle). Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will be awarded the corresponding certificate. As for UA students, a certificate will be issued once they pass the table tennis course offered by the Faculty of Sport Sciences (FSS).

Furthermore, the Table Tennis for Elderly program will be launched in the Motricity Education and Adapted Physical Activities concentration, and a yearly Open Table Tennis for Elderly day will be jointly organized by UA and the LTTF.

At the end of the meeting, and as a token of appreciation, Mr. Kopaly offered UA the complete list of issues of La Coupe, a sports journal he used to publish in the late 1980s to help UA students better understand the history of Lebanese sports.