UNITED STATES/CHINA PING PONG DIPLOMACY

Once more unto the People’s Republic of China, dear friends, once more 

It’s unbelievable but here I am on the 17th day of February, 2006, feverishly making preparations in readiness, once more, for a visit to the People’s Republic of China from March 26th to April 4th, 2006... after the Official announcement was made by the USATT of the team of Americans selected for this trip.

On December 22, 2005 The Chinese Table Tennis Association, extended an invitation to the United States of America Table Tennis to visit China to celebrate and commemorate the thirty fifth anniversary of the historic Ping-Pong Diplomacy event which occurred in 1971.

This invitation marks the fourth celebration of Ping-Pong Diplomacy involving Delegations of US and Chinese representatives. The first of course being in 1971 when the first group of Americans in approximately twenty four years was able to set foot in China.

At that time a total of 15 Americans participating at the World’s Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan received an invitation from the Chinese Delegation present to visit the People’s Republic of China for one week on a Goodwill Tour and because of the significant importance that resulted, Ping-Pong Diplomacy was born and has since become a major event between the US and China.

The Chinese reciprocated by sending a team of Officials and Players in 1972 and again in 1997 to the United States when the first and twenty fifth anniversaries respectively were celebrated.

On both occasions, exhibition matches were played in many cities in the US and at the United Nations in New York City, where in 1972, George Bush, Sr. (then US Ambassador to the United Nations) and Mrs. Bush were in attendance.

In 1997, Henry Kissinger and other dignitaries were present and in his speech delivered to approximately two hundred people in attendance, Mr. Kissinger verified that in 1971 when the White House learned that a group of US Ping-Pong Players (and not Government Officials) was invited to China as a medium to help establish better relations between the two countries, they held their breath and kept their fingers crossed for fear of not knowing what we would do or say but after a few days the White House Officials became noticeably more relaxed because not only did we handle ourselves amicably, we had exceeded expectations and had distinguished ourselves creditably like the true Ping-Pong Diplomats we were.

National Committee on United States-China Relations

Immediately following the announcement of our most recent invitation, I proceeded to contact Ms. Jan Berris, the Vice President of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, the organization that co-hosted the Chinese Ping-Pong team’s visit to the United States in 1972 and this is what she had to say…

"The original April 1971 visit was an historic moment that had major geopolitical consequences. It not only marked the beginning of 'ping pong diplomacy' but of people-to-people exchanges, which have become the basis for the work of the National Committee and other organizations in increasing understanding between Chinese and American citizens. The National Committee was delighted to have worked together with the U.S. Table Tennis Association in 1972 to welcome the Chinese team to this country for a 20-day, 9-stop tour. Few of us involved with that wonderful event, if any, would have predicted how deep the relations between our two countries would become and how rapidly China would develop. Those returning to China for the first time in 35 years will find it to be almost unrecognizable. But what will not have changed, will be the eagerness and warmth of the reception accorded them“.

News Flash

Earlier today February 17th, 2006 it was brought to my attention that a group of Chinese enthusiasts who has just returned from Beijing, China had been in touch with the Peking University. They stated that a team of Peking University Table Tennis players with some members from the 1972 Chinese Ping-Pong Diplomacy team would be visiting the US in the fall of 2006 to continue the 35th anniversary celebration and to promote the fact that the Table Tennis competition will be played at the Peking University at the 2008 Olympic Games which will be held in China.

More on this topic as developments become available.

I HAVE A DREAM

* That this occasion will afford the USATT much  needed and free media coverage.

* That this opportunity will open the doors, once more, to let the USATT in.

* That when the USATT walk through those doors we would rise above and overcome all. Obstacles to promote Table Tennis in a major way Nationwide.

 * That the USATT would seriously consider this a probability to enhance the possibility of Programs and Progress development    

VISAS 

* To those who have to obtain Visas to travel to  China, please do so as early as possible.

GEORGE BRATHWAITE
VICE PRESIDENT USATT
PHONE: 212-980-8442
E-MAIL:CHIEFGHB@YAHOO.COM