News 30.05.2025

Message from the founder at 2025 PingPongParkinson®️ German Open

Good morning everyone. My heart is full of joy to be here with you all.
You are a part of something historic: patients creating their own tournament and their own global sports movement to take back their health into their own hands. Something that has never been done before. Books and films are being made about this phenomenon. Scientists are studying it. We are expecting great insights from a clinical trial involving PingPongParkinson that is concluding in a couple of weeks. So don’t underestimate the power you have to change the world – because you are doing it. Whilst the Paralympic movement doesn’t include us, our passion and love for our game is as strong as the Olympic flame.
We’re not just gathering here to entertain ourselves but to make life better for each other. So I propose that before each match we make a simple gesture of acknowledgement of our opponents: we put our racquets to our hearts and bow, showing our respect and compassion for what we bring to each other.
I carry a flag with two nations on it. The reason is because I have two countries that I love and call home. Now if PingPongParkinson was a country, I would carry that flag too. It’s not a country, but it feels like home. Wherever we gather, we create home. Oldenburg, Germany, is a home for us today.
The reason why you travel to PingPongParkinson tournaments is not just desire to win a medal. It is your passion, which is connected to the authenticity of people who organise this tournament. Thank you, Stefan Ganse, Thorsten Boomhuis, Arno Kampen, Hilmar Heinrichmeyer and all the volunteers, who are appreciated wholeheartedly.
We also send our love to all our brothers and sisters around the world. We know your desire is stronger than pain. For those who wished to be here and couldn’t, we hope to find a way that you can be here next time.
Finally, keep the heart pure because that is the most powerful instrument we have. Now let’s compete, enjoy the dance with the ping pong ball, and spread friendship around the world because home is where PingPongParkinson is.

• Nenad Bach

29 may, 2025
Oldenburg, Germany