NE1 FOR TABLE TENNIS – 7 NEW PING PONG TABLES INSTALLED ACROSS NEWCASTLE CITY CENTRE ON NATIONAL TABLE TENNIS DAY

PING PONG, WHIF WHAF, GOSSIMA, FLIM FLAM, TABLE TENNIS – whatever name you give the sport, this summer it’s time to pick up the bats and play for free at NE1’s newly installed outdoor tables at sites across Newcastle city centre.  7 outdoor tables will take up permanent residence in the city from Thursday, 17 July as part of NE1's latest summertime addition to the streets of Newcastle and to commemorate National Table Tennis Day (Thursday 17 July). Northumberland Street, Princess Square (next to Newcastle Central library), Trinity Gardens and the Quayside next to the Pitcher and Piano restaurant will all have one or more outdoor table tennis tables installed by the end of this week, with a launch planned for Thursday 17 July. Players from various clubs in the Northumbria Table Tennis League, which covers the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland region, will pick up their bats to offer demonstrations to passers-by on how the game should be played. The ping pong tables are an extension of NE1's summertime events programme which has seen the return of the much-loved NE1 Quayside Seaside, pop up beach on the Quayside equipped with volleyball court, deck chairs and buckets and spades and the open air film screenings at NE1 Monument Movies which will recommence on Tuesday 22 July. Now the ping pong tables are joining NE1's free things to do in the city during the summer. Bats and balls will not be provided but NE1 expects people to come prepared with their own, and nearby sports shops have stocked up with plenty of cheap sets to cater for what is sure to be a large demand. Commenting on the installation of the ping pong tables, Stephen Patterson, Director of Communications at NE1 Ltd explained: “NE1 Ltd looks far and wide for inspiration and ideas for things to bring to Newcastle City Centre to add to the fun.  We want to give people more reasons to visit Newcastle and be able to enjoy a great day out with lots of free activities in the heart of the city.” “The idea for the tables came from recent visits to London and Spain where outdoor table tennis tables provide fun, free activities for people to enjoy – we’re sure the tables will be well received here in Newcastle and look forward to seeing the ping pong craze sweep through the city.” Alan Hedley, Chairman, Cramlington Table Tennis Club said; “It’s great news that Newcastle will now have free table tennis tables for everyone to enjoy in the city centre. Our members come from far and wide to play what is now a major growth sport – it is wonderful to be able to launch NE1’s new tables on National Table Tennis day and to allow the people of Newcastle and the wider North East to get into the game and start playing.” Ping pong facts:

• Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world and ranked second overall in terms of participation.  Over 10 million players compete in tournaments each year.
• Table tennis became an Olympic Sport in the 1998 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
• Table tennis was banned in the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1950 because the authorities believed the sport was harmful to the eyes.
• China, Sweden and South Korea are currently the world powers in table tennis.