WHY TABLE TENNIS?

 

The United Nations has affirmed that sport can contribute both to peace and to sustainable development. “In its contribution towards peace, sport often provides safe environments at the grassroots and community levels, at which participants are brought together in the pursuit of common goals and interests; learn values of respect, tolerance and fair play; and develop social competencies. As a common denominator and shared passion, sport can build bridges between communities regardless of their cultural differences or political divisions. In times of conflict or instability, sporting activities can provide participants with a sense of normalcy.”[1]

 

Research has shown that participation in organized sport can help children overcome childhood traumas and promote their mental health and wellbeing.[2]

 

Table tennis is a serious sport that requires commitment, focus and dedication. At the same time, it can be played with comparatively little by way of infrastructure or capital investment and in a wide variety of physical and social settings.

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[1] UN Chronicle, 2016; https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/role-sport-achieving-sustainable-development-goals

[2] Bob Cook, “Can Sports Help Kids Overcome Their Childhood Trauma?”, Forbes, 30 May 2019; https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2019/05/30/can-sports-help-kids-overcome-their-childhood-trauma/?sh=53110b757657. And Easterlin MC, Chung PJ, Leng M, Dudovitz R. “Association of Team Sports Participation With Long-term Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals Exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences.” JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(7):681–688. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1212