10 countries confirm participation for Peace and Sport Cup in Qatar

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/international-sport/170706-10-countries-confirm-participation-for-peace-and-sport-cup-in-qatar.html


Doha: Ten nations have officially confirmed they will participate in the Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup, an historic table tennis tournament conceived to encourage dialogue and reconciliation between nations, which will be held in Qatar on November 21 and 22.
The 10 competing nations officially revealed yesterday by Joel Bouzou President and Founder of Peace and Sport, are the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Republic of Korea (South Korea), People’s Republic of China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Russia, the United States of America (USA), France and hosts Qatar.
The tournament will last two days and boasts a prize fund of $100,000 for the winners.
The tournament is organised by the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), with support from the Qatar Olympic Committee under the leadership of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the guidance of Peace and Sport. This unprecedented sports event aims to ease political tensions and unite nations through table tennis, a sport with a rich historical past of doing just that.
In Qatar, Ping-Pong Diplomacy will return.
Ping-Pong diplomacy, refers to the visit by a US table tennis team to China in 1971, in the midst of the Cold War, to play friendly matches.
The event was the catalyst for US President Nixon’s visit to China the following year, allowing the two countries to restore diplomatic relations. Onlookers will include key government officials and diplomats from each of the competing nations, fostering political communication and relations at the highest level.
Bouzou said: “The first Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup is set to be a great event. It will foster communication and political reconciliation at the highest level, since diplomats and government representatives from the 10 participating nations are invited to watch the tournament.
“We are extremely proud to have succeeded in gathering together, under the banner of sport, countries that refuse to mix in other contexts. The neutral status of sport plays the role of mediator on the international diplomatic stage. This tournament will make a step to encourage dialogue between countries, to promote mutual understanding and peace.”
For Adham Sharara, ITTF President, said: “This unprecedented event will forge bonds of friendship between the participating nations: The competition aims to promote world peace and we are proud that table tennis is the sport that is fully implemented in this cause.
Meanwhile, Tinsue and Double Happiness will be the sponsors of the tournament, it was revealed.
The unique concept of bringing together players as representatives from countries that have a history of conflict, has been embraced and supported by Tinsue and Double Happiness, says Steve Dainton, ITTF Marketing Director: “Both sponsors are happy to support this kind of initiative. It shows they not only care about the commercial side of sponsorship but also about seeing table tennis used as a way to support peace and harmony throughout the world.”
Khalil Al Mohannadi, President of QTTA said it is a previlage to host the historic event.
“We are thankful to ITTF for choosing Qatar for this first-ever ground breaking event,” said Khalil. The Peninsula

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