Cities across England are stepping up to the table tennis table

10 Apr 2012 09:50 AM

Popular Ping! project is back to create a summer of outdoor ping pong across three cities
Hundreds more tables to pop up across country thanks to new Ping! small grants spin off
Total National Lottery investment worth over £500,000

Billingsgate Fish Market could do with one for the fishmongers. Sheffield would like 10 for their city centre. And Watford Council thinks that placing one at Watford Gap Motorway Service Station could get drivers stretching their legs.

Sport England today launched Ping! the Public - a new initiative to boost recreational table tennis. £250,000 of National Lottery funding has been set aside to pay for public ping pong tables. From village halls to city councils and the Woman’s Institute to after-school clubs, non-profit organisations can apply for their own table. The only stipulation is that it is free for people to use and enjoy.

“We’d like to see ping pong tables popping up everywhere - from village greens to university canteens, and city squares to community centres,” said Sport England’s Chief Executive, Jennie Price. “The important thing for any organisation applying for a table is to demonstrate that it will be well used.”

This fund has been created in response to the overwhelming success of Ping! – the city-wide ping pong initiative that has transformed the popularity of social table tennis. The project launched in London in 2010 - with 100 tables placed across the capital – before moving to Birmingham and Hull last summer.

In each city the public response has been huge. And today Sport England confirmed £280,585 of lottery funding for the third year of the project, which will see Ping! travel to Bristol and Liverpool this summer as well as returning to London ahead of the Olympic Games.

“Ping! has proved one of our most successful sports participation projects, attracting over 150,000 participants to date,” said Jennie Price. “Moreover, our Active People Survey shows that once people start playing they don’t want to stop.”

In the year of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, ping pong is certainly coming home. Summer 2012 sees Ping! sweeping across the country: local councils in five more areas have already secured lottery funding from Sport England’s Small Grants scheme to produce their own version of Ping! Councils in Birmingham, Brighton, Hampshire, Leicester and Sheffield will all be placing tables in prominent locations for everyone to enjoy. Ping! the Public will make it easier for dozens more smaller organisations in other areas to follow their lead.

In addition to free play, the English Table Tennis Association will host a series of masterclasses, tournaments and coaching sessions. Also on offer are Random Acts of Ping Pong, an unusual programme of art and social ping pong, from artist-designed tables to Singles for Singles (an event to help you find your perfect match) and Midnight Ping! with glow in the dark balls. The tables are up from June 29th for four to six weeks.

Ping! is produced by Sing London – the non-profit organisation whose projects include London’s Street Pianos Project and Talking Rubbish bins. “A ping pong table is a relatively small intervention, but it’s amazing how much fun it can generate,” said Sing London’s Creative Director, Colette Hiller.

It is co-produced by the English Table Tennis Association – the national governing body for table tennis – whose Chief Executive, Richard Yule, said: “Table tennis can be played by anyone, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Ping! proves it. Great exercise and great fun is guaranteed on a Ping! table this summer.”

The Ping! the Public Fund opens on 9th April and closes on 23rd April. An unusually fast turnaround means that applicants will have a response within six weeks - just in time to celebrate the 2012 Games. Non-profit organisations who want to apply should register their interest at www.etta.co.uk/news/ping-package

To find your nearest table and get playing as part of Ping! this summer, go to www.pingengland.co.uk

Notes to editors

Ping! London locations include: British Library, Canary Wharf, London Live Sites, Portobello Market, the Roundhouse, Soho Square and Westfield Shopping Centre.

Ping! Liverpool locations include: Cavern Club, Cream, FACT, John Lennon Airport, Merseyside Ferry and Tate Liverpool.

Ping! Bristol locations include: Bristol Cathedral, Bristol Zoo, Colston Halls, the Old Vic and SS Great Britain.

Additional quotes

We think the locals will really take to Ping! Liverpool,” said Rob Connor, Principal Events Officer for Liverpool Council. “By placing tables in iconic and irresistible locations like the Cavern Club and the Merseyside Ferry, we aim to get the whole city playing and celebrating the Games.”

Councillor Simon Cook, deputy leader of Bristol city Council and executive member for sport said: "Ping! Bristol is going to be great fun this summer. There will be over 40 ping pong tables across the city in our parks and public spaces, so wherever you live you can get involved and have a go. The city council is delighted to be part of this national campaign to get more people taking part in sporting activities.”

How to apply to Ping! the Public

There are two simple packages available that provide everything needed to make recreational table tennis happen locally. Organisations can simply apply for Sport England funding for the package that most suits their need. The closing date for applications is 23rd April and a decision will be made within six weeks. Organisations interested in these packages can register their interest at www.etta.co.uk/news/ping-package.