THE BOX OFFICE SMASH
Ping ’ s sixth summer spreading table tennis nationwide was a groundbreaking success .
T hough it initially began as a tool to bring table tennis to the streets of London in 2010 , Ping ! has grown into a huge nationwide hit , attracting an estimated 1.5 million people to its free tables this summer .
Sport England claim it as one of their most successful participation projects and with cities like Nottingham and Leeds welcoming well over 50,000 Ping ! participants , the project is bound to return in 2017 .
The most successful ventures all managed to become an integrated part of their cities : in Nottingham they organised tables at most tram stops in and around the city centre , while Ping ! tables were to be found in almost all of Leeds ’ indoor shopping centres .
‘ In Leeds , where we ’ ve had 36 public tables around the city , having the council onside has been a big help ,’ conceded Peter Thompson , Leeds Ping ! Activator .
‘ They ’ ve seen it ’ s cheap , inclusive and easy to get a few minutes enjoyment from , so have been great at creating joint events like Active Parks , putting concrete-bedded tables in three big city parks .’
The new in Newcastle
Although there have been free tables up in Newcastle for two years , thanks to the council ’ s NE1 project , this was the first time Ping ! had been brought to the city , with 15 tables available to Geordies and visitors alike .
Melissa Marshall , Ping ! Newcastle Activity Officer , agrees that , like Leeds , they were right to look at getting involved in joint projects . ‘ Working with existing organisations like NE1 and Lane 7 , a bowling alley with table tennis , meant we only had to do half the promotion and didn ’ t need so many tables .
‘ With Lane 7 for example , they ran a scheme where if you quoted Ping ! over the phone when you booked a table , they ’ d give you a reduced rate ,’ Marshall explained .
‘ We also looked at what existing events venues had on . For example , the Discovery Museum ran themed days during the school holidays , so we ’ d make sure we were there with the Ping ! tables for those and were set up to expect youngsters .
‘ Tailoring the coaching for the age and ability of those there was really important ,’ Marshall advised . ‘ We ’ d set up things like target practice with cardboard boxes for kids , rather than expecting them to get involved in rallies .’
Thompson was keen to make the argument for Ping ! being more than just a casual event : ‘ For those who want Ping ! to be more about getting involved in the sport , they can look at working with local leagues ,’ he suggested .
‘ We ’ ve had the President of Leeds Table Tennis League come down to one of our shopping centre projects and we ’ re looking at maybe starting a social league , which could be based in a shopping centre , attracting different people but still making it about competing and properly getting into the sport .’
Mark Willerton , Ping ! Project Leader for Nottingham , added that clubs have to invest time in Ping ! to get the best out of it . ‘ If the club has been involved locally and supported for example a Ping Pong Parlour , or