PING PONG, WHIF WHAF, GOSSIMA, FLIM FLAM, TABLE TENNIS whatever name you give the sport, this summer its time to pick up the bats and play for free at NE1s 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.
