ALMOST OUT OF TIME
JTTA launches ‘mismatched’ fundraising campaign in last-ditch effort to raise $2m for Caribbean tournament
Published:Thursday | April 17, 2025 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
THE JAMAICA Table Tennis Association (JTTA) and the Kingston & St Andrew Table Tennis Association are seeking support for the national youth table tennis teams, which will be competing at the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Championship in Barbados from April 19–28.
However, the associations are facing a significant financial shortfall and are in need of $2 million to cover the team’s travel and accommodation expenses for the tournament.
In an effort to reduce the deficit, the associations launched the ‘mismatched shoe campaign’ to garner support.
To show support, the associations have asked members of the public to wear mismatched shoes or slippers and come to Emancipation Park today at 4 p.m. in a show of solidarity.
Persons can donate what they can to the Jamaica Table Tennis Association’s NCB chequing account No. 211003383, New Kingston branch, and share photos on social media using the hashtags #MismatchedForBarbados and #JamaicaTableTennis.
JTTA President Ingrid Graham is appealing to the public for the added support needed to get them over the line.
“Persons can participate online. We will be in training tomorrow at Excelsior auditorium, and from there we will organise and take some of the players down to Emancipation Park.
“So we want everyone to come out and play table tennis, put on your mismatched shoes, tag us, contribute, and just support,” she said.
“The time will probably vary because we don’t want to go in the sun. But by about 4 p.m., we will be there.”
She noted that support has been forthcoming with contributions from the sport minister, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and individuals, but today’s support at Emancipation Park is crucial.
“The feedback has been good. We have persons calling and asking about it. But it is about them showing up, and then we will know where we are at. In essence, we are asking people to take a picture playing table tennis, with any object they want to use, in a pair of mismatched shoes.
“The aim is to generate the $2 million that we are short to go to Barbados. We have an under-15 and [an] under-19 team taking part in the championships.
“We have fundraised and we have received some sponsorships. The [sports] minister [Olivia Grange] came on board herself and help us with some of the funding, because we were way out more than $2 million.
“But with the SDF, the JOA and persons coming on and giving a little $2,000 and $10,000, it has been tremendous because ‘every mikkle mek a mukkle’,” she declared.
“It is a large contingent, and airfare and hotels are expensive. So we have tried every avenue to push to get funding and to help ourselves; hence, [we are] putting this out for Jamaica to come on board,” she added.