Unifying power of sport: celebrating ping-pong diplomacy's legacy of friendship

Chinese table tennis stars Liu Shiwen (first from left) and Ma Long (second from right) pose for photos during an event commemorating the 53rd anniversary of China-US “ping pong diplomacy” in Los Angeles on December 24, 2024. Photo: cnsfoto

At the table tennis table, Chinese table tennis players Ma Long and Liu Shiwen pick up their paddles to play a mixed doubles match together. If you're a die-hard ping pong fan, you might find this scene a little strange, as they aren't dressed in sportswear, but instead in black formal clothes. They were in Los Angeles, engaged in a friendly match with veteran American ping-pong players.

Fifty-three years later, the Chinese and Americans are honoring the legacy of “ping-pong diplomacy.” Hundreds of Chinese and Americans, including lawmakers, diplomats and world champions, gathered Sunday at the Pacific Palms Resort in Los Angeles County to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of “ping-pong diplomacy.”

“Fifty-three years ago, table tennis carried the message of friendship between the Chinese and American players and initiated exchanges between the two peoples, opening a historic chapter of 'ping-pong diplomacy',” said Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sport of China and chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said in a letter before the event.

Magic of ping pong

In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. table tennis team made a historic trip to China, becoming the first delegation of Americans to visit China in decades.

Their trip marked the beginning of what became known as “ping-pong diplomacy” and helped lay the foundation for the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the US. The legacy also led to better people-to-people understanding and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Noting that the “amicable moment” had transcended time and space, Gao said it had not only transformed China-US relations but also set an example of sports diplomacy worldwide.

Xu Yinsheng, honorary president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) who witnessed “ping-pong diplomacy” in the early 1970s as then-coach of the Chinese national ping-pong team, told the Global Times in an earlier interview that he still remembered the time the U.S. player Glenn Cowan accidentally boarded a shuttle bus carrying the Chinese team during the match. The Chinese players were a bit surprised by the presence of this young American with hippie hair.

“But we had no animosity toward him,” Xu said.

The Chinese players showed Cowan their friendship and goodwill, he recalled.

Years later, “ping-pong diplomacy” “still provides a valuable reference point for the two countries in dealing with the fluctuations in their relations,” Xu said.

Gene Sykes, chairman of the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the “ping-pong diplomacy” was “a pivotal moment that transcends sports and diplomacy.”

“As we reflect on the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, we are reminded of the unifying power of sport,” Sykes said in a speech at the Sunday event in Los Angeles.

The impact of 'ping-pong diplomacy' went far beyond sports. It opened doors for cooperation and exchange between the two countries, which continue to shape mutual relations while inspiring people to create a more harmonious world, Sykes said.

Long lasting legacy

Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun called it “an iconic moment in China-US relations” at the reception, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

“Although the relationship between the two countries has had ups and downs, it has always progressed,” Guo said, noting that the win-win cooperation between China and the US was not only in accordance with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also in line with the trend of the times.

The two countries' common interests had not decreased but increased, Guo said, calling for drawing wisdom and strength from “ping-pong diplomacy” for a healthy and stable relationship between China and the US, as it was the right choice for the two countries. their peoples and the world.

After the friendship match with veteran American table tennis players, Chinese player Ma Long told China Central Television (CCTV) that he felt the affection and love for table tennis from these American players, who “knew almost every player of the Chinese team at the time.” ' and the friendship between them 'has always been maintained'.

About the match, Chinese Olympic champion Liu Shiwen said: “I can imagine the scenes where they fought hard on the field in the past. When we played against each other, I felt that it was a representation and continuation of the spirit of table football.” tennis.”

The “ping-pong diplomacy” creatively paved the way for the normalization of relations between China and the US in those difficult years full of ideological confrontations.

“Its legacy continues to encourage us to pass on such friendships and cultural exchanges because we are on the same global cultural pulse,” Sun Jiashan, a university researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times on Tuesday .