Ping Pong Diplomacy:
A Rally For U.S.- China Relations
Ping Pong in China
“If you would bring some Ping-Pong balls, there would be no end of joy.”
~Request from Communist Party military leader to visiting journalist, Ilona Sues, late 1930's
Mao Zedong speaks to a group of his followers in 1944. Source: Hulton Archive.
1927 marked the start of the Chinese Civil War, fought between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party.
Ping pong was popular among Communist soldiers during the war. The game reinforced values of political commitment, comradery, and physical fitness.
Edgar Snow, author of "Red Star Over China," described a Ping Pong table at the center of every military rectreational area.
Transcript of the 1951 International Table Tennis Federation meeting. Source: DLC
In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party won and established the People’s Republic of China.
Ivor Montagu, president of the International Table Tennis Federation, reached out to Zhu De, military leader and honorary chairman of the Sport’s Society, soon after the establishment of the PCR. Montague hoped to build the first bridge between communist China and international sports. He proposed that China compete in the 1952 Bombay Table Tennis World Championships.
“The President [Ivor Montague] reported that correspondence had taken place with China who hoped to make contact with the I.T.T.F. It was decided to send copies of the rules and to request them to associate with the Federation.”
~Transcript of the 1951 International Table Tennis Federation meeting.
A poster encourages young girls to play Ping Pong. Source: ChinesePosters.net
Rong Guotuan won China the first gold medal in any sporting event. Source: Xinhua
China spent the late 1950’s training and recruiting players for their table tennis team.
In 1959, Rong Guotuan won gold in the Table Tennis World Championships. This was China's first gold medal in any international sport.
Guotuan was celebrated in China as a hero. He had promoted China internationally and at home.