Parkinson's Scottish International Open, recognised by the ITTF Foundation, will be held in Largs

Taking place on 15–16 August at the Sportscotland National Sports Training Centre in Largs, the Parkinson’s Scottish International Open 2026 is co-organised by the Parkinson's Scottish Table Tennis Association (PSTTA) and Table Tennis Scotland. We are pleased to label the tournament as a “Recognised by the ITTF Foundation” event.

In only three years, the Parkinson’s Scottish Open has grown from a last-minute rescue plan into one of Europe's most sought-after competitions for players with Parkinson's. To tell more about the event, we spoke with Brian Carson, PSTTA team member and a familiar face at the World Table Tennis for Health Festival.

From a Cancelled Event to an International Fixture

Brian has been living with Parkinson's for nine years and has chaired the PSTTA for the past three. He picked up a racket five years ago after reading that table tennis can help manage the physical symptoms of the condition, and the sport is now a central part of his exercise routine. Alongside this, he volunteers with a local Parkinson's support group in Glasgow and serves as a trustee of the national charity Parkinson's UK.

The PSTTA itself is run by just three volunteers: Brian Carson, Terry McLernon MBE, and Linda Duddy. Established four years ago, its mission is to promote the benefits of table tennis for people with Parkinson's and to work with Table Tennis Scotland so that local clubs make provision for them to play, in some cases through dedicated Parkinson's sessions.

The Parkinson's Scottish International Open was born in 2023, when the UK Parkinson's Open planned in England was cancelled and Brian and Terry stepped in to relocate the event north of the border. Linda joined them in early 2024, having first attended as a spectator with her husband, who lives with Parkinson's, and now leads on sponsorship and media visibility.

Table Tennis Scotland has backed the project from the very start, paying the deposit to secure the venue for the first edition before enough entries had come in to make the event viable. It remains closely involved in planning and delivery, providing administrative support for registration and on-site accommodation bookings, as well as a tournament referee and a team of qualified umpires.

The results speak for themselves. The first edition in 2023 welcomed 46 players, 36 of them UK-based and 10 from elsewhere in Europe. This year, 104 players from 10 countries will compete, including 38 travelling from across Europe. The organisers' biggest challenge today is simply keeping up with demand.

More Than a Tournament

The PSTTA is not just a sports association staging an event for people with Parkinson's. All three volunteers have Parkinson's in their lives, whether personally or through someone close to them, which makes them understand the condition first-hand.

The Open gives players of every level the chance to compete, and in doing so it recognises something often overlooked: the desire of people with Parkinson's to keep playing sport competitively. Participants can test themselves against their opponents and against their own limits, and have fun while doing it. It is a reminder that the benefits of sport are not only physical but also social, built on the connections formed around the table.

Recognised by the ITTF Foundation

The event has been officially labelled "Recognised by the ITTF Foundation." This recognition follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ITTF Foundation, the Parkinson's Scottish Table Tennis Association and Table Tennis Scotland, represented as the event co-organisers.

By recognising events such as the Parkinson's Scottish International Open, the ITTF Foundation continues to promote the development of a structured and supportive ecosystem for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's table tennis events as well as TT4Health programmes worldwide.

This collaboration encourages Member Associations and community organisers to deliver TT4Health programmes and events aligned with internationally established standards, including:

• Application of people with Parkinson's (PwP) and people with Alzheimer's specific table tennis rules
• Use of PwP classification guidelines
• Adoption of frameworks developed for the World Parkinson's Table Tennis Championships and the World Alzheimer's Table Tennis Championships

Through each recognised event, this shared approach ensures consistency, fairness, and player-centred competition conditions, while strengthening the pathway for people with Parkinson's to stay active and connected through table tennis.

Follow the Results of the Parkinson’s Scottish International Open

The tournament is now so popular that registration has closed for this edition. But you can still follow every point: results and a live stream will be available through the Table Tennis Scotland Facebook, and YouTube channel.

We wish all players an excellent tournament in Largs.