At an event commemorating the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy last Friday, both Chinese and U.S. attendees highly commented on the important role of sports in promoting people-to-people exchanges, expressing the hope that the friendship between the Chinese and American people would last forever.
On April 10, 1971, a U.S. table tennis delegation visited China, breaking the ice for China-U.S. relations, which is remembered as the Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
Also on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the event, noting that it is of great significance to advancing the China-U.S. friendly ties that the youth from both sides renew the affinity brought by Ping-Pong Diplomacy and engage in a series of sports exchange activities. More than 50 years later, five Chinese and U.S. table tennis veterans, all participants in the historic event, over 70 years old, reunited at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium. The barriers in languages did not dampen their excitement at seeing each other again after half a century.
Judy Hoarfrost, one of the U.S. team members, shared her unforgettable experience in China back in 1971.
"We played in front of 18,000 people and that was very exciting. They were very warm. They applauded for us. We have a good point. They'd applaud and it was all very, very warm and accepting. And I learned 'Long live the friendship between the Chinese and American people (in Chinese)'. I mean, just visiting the Great Wall. We also went to the Summer Palace. I was just 15 years old. I was just sponge soaking up everything and it made me have a lifelong interest in China, so I've always wanted to learn everything I could,” she said.
Zheng Minzhi, a three-time World Table Tennis Championships gold medalist, also part of the 1971 China team that competed in Nagoya, Japan where she witnessed a surprising turn in diplomatic history, demonstrated an old camera that stood as a token of friendship between Chinese and U.S. players.
"The camera was a precious gift from our American friends when we were on a visit to America. I put it on one of my bookshelves, and look at it from time to time. It is a symbol of friendship between China and the United States. Judy (Hoarfrost) and Connie (Mae Sweeris) are old friends of mine, and I hope our friendship will be passed down from generation to generation," Zheng said.
At the commemorative event, over a hundred young people from the United States came to witness this profound bond that spans more than half a century. Upon seeing the old table from 1971, everyone couldn't resist touching it, and some even picked up paddles and played a few rounds.
"As soon as I walked in, I wanted to get to that table. I said, we're going to find a ball, we're going to get paddles, and that's going to be part of the celebration. So we're hitting with history. And it's such a thrill. I remember learning about it and was on television, even in the United States. And it was such a concept of why could sports be that important? You know, why could, how could it break down barriers and allow people to meet people and see people eye to eye," said Burke Walls, manager and coach of Paddle Palace Club in the U.S. state of Oregon.
The young people also visited a robot exhibition center in Beijing, and were fascinated by China’s sci-tech achievements.
"All the people here have been super friendly. They've been super helpful. Even though I don't speak any Chinese myself. They're very accommodating, like the technology. We went to the manufacturing center and I mean, it was incredible. Like China, they were so open. I'm really excited to explore more about this nation," said a student from the University of Washington.
China-U.S. friendship, power of sport hailed at event marking 55th anniversary of of China-U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy
