IC Markets, a leading broker specializing in contracts for differences (CFDs), has renewed its partnership with World Table Tennis, continuing as the “Official Trading Partner” for the organization. The partnership, which began in 2023, has been extended to cover the latest event calendar through 2025.
The renewed agreement kicked off with the WTT Finals Fukuoka 2024 and will feature IC Markets branding prominently at tournaments across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Blythe Fitzwiliam, Commercial Partnerships Director at World Table Tennis, expressed excitement about the extended collaboration, stating, “IC Markets has been an integral partner in our journey since 2023, and we’re delighted to strengthen this relationship further.”
Although IC Markets is headquartered in Australia, the sponsorship was signed under its Seychelles-based entity. This follows recent regulatory penalties imposed on the broker’s Cyprus-regulated arm for non-compliance.
Sports Sponsorships as a Key Marketing Strategy
Sports sponsorships have become a popular advertising tool among brokers, especially in the competitive CFDs market. Most sponsorships focus on globally popular sports like football and motor racing due to their broad audience reach. However, these partnerships often require significant financial investment, with deals for major teams costing tens of millions of dollars.
IC Markets has a history of investing heavily in sports sponsorships. In 2020, it spent €10 million as a sleeve sponsor for Italian football club Inter Milan. The following year, the broker shifted its focus to partnerships with multiple football clubs in Spain and Germany.
In contrast to football, table tennis is considered a niche sport but enjoys immense popularity in certain regions, particularly Asia. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 350 million unique viewers in China alone watched table tennis matches, according to Play Today.
Growing Popularity of Table Tennis
World Table Tennis has a substantial following on social media, making it an appealing platform for sponsorships. The organization boasts 721,000 Instagram followers, 1.6 million Facebook followers, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers. This digital presence complements the sport’s strong regional popularity, particularly in Asian markets where IC Markets is also active.
The extended sponsorship deal reflects IC Markets’ strategic approach to using sports partnerships to strengthen its global brand while targeting key demographics in emerging and established markets.
