Health & Fitness
Patch Blog: Ping Pong Diplomacy and the 2011 L.A. Open
Ping pong is more than a recreation activity, it's a sport fit for all ages.
Sports and diplomacy--The international public relation that bridged the adversity of two countries over 40 years ago. China first invited the United States of America to a game of ping pong that lead to the open communication with our past president Richard Nixon and his historic journey to China in 1972.
Forty years later, the Richard Nixon Foundation will commemorate such a historical event by hosting the rematch on July 8, 2011 at the White House East Room in the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. This will feature members of the original 1971 and 1972 teams. Huiaiying Zheng and Liang Geliang will represent China and Judy Hoaefrost and George Braithwaite will be the USA team. Who will you cheer on as the winning team?
Ping pong has always been a casual sport for many youngsters during after school recreational hours or even at a good friend's house who happens to have a ping pong table. Despite its casual nature, ping pong can actually get very competitive even to a global level shown by the USA vs China re-match and at the Olympics.
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However, ping pong is actually good for all ages. Recently an LA Times article reported the benefits of how a group of elderly patients gained better limb control and showed great health improvements when they engaged and played table tennis regularly.
Just this past week, I had the pleasure to meet with the Organizing Committee Chairman Yungtai Hsu, PH.D. of the 2011 LA Open Table Tennis, which is scheduled for September 3rd-4th at the LABC in the City of El Monte. Dr. Hsu shared with me that he is very excited about the initial response with the USA Table Tennis Association that sanctioned 4-star tournaments to attract many top players from the U.S. and other countries. The total prize money will exceed $45,000. His wish is to bring the sport to its full potential in the US.
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The real question is could ping pong have the potential like AYSO or little league to gain popularity's in the USA youth sports arena? The little "white ball" certainly has played some important role, from international diplomacy, sport competition with the 2011 LA Open Table Tennis, medical therapy for the aging group and fun time recreational activities for all that play.
