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Long gone are the days of conventional sports such as football, baseball, track and swim team. One sport that is considered mainstream in countries throughout Europe is looked upon as a leisurely basement pass time in
America. Officially joining in the Olympic competition in 1988 table tennis has grown to accommodate nearly 40 million players worldwide.

With humble beginnings in the 1880s, British soldiers stationed in South Africa and India improvised ping-pong using the lids of cigar boxes as the paddle and bottle corks as the ball. Stacks of books on the floor served as
a net. The sport caught on throughout Europe. Due to rising popularity English manufacturer, J. Jaques & Son Ltd, decided to copyright the phrase "ping-pong" in 1901. Other manufacturers offered less expensive equipment
alternatives under the name "table tennis." The rights to the name "ping-pong" was later sold to American manufacturer Parker Brothers for use in the United States.

The very first table tennis tournament was held in London in 1927. The tournament held a Hungarian champion up until WWII. The American Ping Pong Association was formed in 1930 to a limited few because the Parker Brothers version of equipment was extremely expensive. Asian players emerged in 1953 dominating the sport with the introduction of the foam rubber paddle by Horoi Satoh, a Japanese player, the year before. This new paddle allowed players to put a spin on the ball during game play.

The game can be played in singles or doubles. When served the ball must bounce once before it goes over the net and once before it is hit by the opposing player. With technology changing in the production of balls and
paddles speeds excess of 100 mph can be accomplished with the correct hand strokes. Errors in the game include allowing free hand to touch the table, failing to hit ball after it has bounced on one's side of the net, letting
the ball bounce twice on one's side of the net without hitting it and letting the ball bounce on one's side once it had already been hit. The game is played until 21 points are acquired with at least a 2-point lead.

The game of ping-pong has gone on to aspire the world's first successful video game Pong. Developed by Atari, Pong maintained the same general concept of regular ping-pong by having two paddles controlled by two
different individuals. Players then teeter-tottered a small ball back in forth in the same way one would in the original real life game. Pong is living proof of the growing popularity of this world wide phenomenon that is
called ping-pong.

Though still not as popular in the United States table tennis is still revered as a competitive Olympic Sport. Even though only about four thousand Americans compete professionally it does not discredit the passion and
dedication that these athletes have for their sport. The fact of the matter is that table tennis is a sport that is practiced and trained for. It takes quick reflexes and a sharp eye to thwart the opponent.

Not having the normal physical requirements and demands of general orthodox sports, table tennis appeals to a vast variety of players. There are competitions that range from any age group from as young as ten years of age
all the way up through players in their nineties. Table tennis is a great sport and pass time for those condemned to wheelchairs and offers great competition for the Special Olympics. It is this flexibility and lovability that contributes the appeal and thrills that is table tennis. The growing popularity of table tennis throughout the years is proof of the staying power and influence this sport has on the United States as well as the rest of the world. Who would have thought that with such humble beginning that table tennis would take off as it has? It doesn't matter who you are, what you do or whether you have a disability or not. This sport has something for anyone and everyone no matter what country or culture one is native to. Super heroes need not apply.