Heathrow bats for British sport
Friday 23, July 2010
Whether passengers want to call it table tennis, ping-pong or wiff-waff, they’ll have an opportunity to pick up a bat and play the classic British sport at Heathrow this summer.
A ping-pong table will be installed in the departures area of Heathrow’s Terminal 3 from 21st July and will remain there for a month as part of the airport’s on-going efforts to promote the best of British sport and culture.
The table will be marked ‘Stop and Play’ and bats and balls will be on hand for passengers to join in the fun.
The table is one of 100 to be installed in key locations across the capital, including the London Eye, Tate Britain and the British Library, this summer. Created by Sing London, the participatory arts organization that produced last year’s Street Pianos Project, Ping! will aim to encourage a million more people to take up sport by the time London hosts the Olympics in 2012.
After the four-week period, the table will be donated to a local organisation nominated by the staff at Heathrow.
Malcolm Robertson from Heathrow said: “This is a fantastic initiative taking place across London and we’re really excited about taking part. Ping pong may have started in the UK, but its popularity around the world makes it the ideal pastime to bring together passengers from all nationalities at Heathrow.
“Almost six million passengers pass through Heathrow each month so we’re always looking for ways to improve their experience and give them a taste of what Britain has to offer. We hope as many people as possible find time to honour the sport by enjoying a game.”
Collette Hiller, creative director of Ping London said: “Table tennis is engaging, good for the health and easy to learn. It has wide appeal and can be enjoyed by young and old, expert and novice, abled and disabled. Despite these attributes, London offers little public provision. By putting table tennis on the street, we will reach a wide public demographic, engaging with thousands of people each day.
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