Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
40th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy
San Francisco welcomes a delegation of Table Tennis Olympians
and sports officials, including members of the veterans team who played in the original matches in 1971.
40 years ago, the world changed for the better. Despite the 20-year long political tension between the U.S. and Communist China following WWII, China cracked open the diplomatic door and the first Americans in two decades were allowed in. What sparked this sudden cooperation and communication between 2 drastically different nations? Ping Pong. The courage of two athletes - one from each country - started the process that led to President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.
Now the San Francisco Bay Area has the opportunity to welcome a delegation from China of Table Tennis Olympians and sports officials, including members of the team who played in the original matches in 1971.
This conference includes a press event, a forum on Sport and Diplomacy, a VIP reception and exhibition, a coaches clinic and an exhibition match at Stanford's Maples Pavilion.
See the complete schedule, buy tickets, volunteer to help, and spread the word.
To purchase VIP Tickets contact Helen Mendel at hmendel@basoc.org
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