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The Beginning
Table tennis began in the 1880s when Tennis players adapted the game to be played indoors on a small scale. http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-table-tennis.htm -
"Ping-Pong"
In the late 1800s table tennis adopted the trademark name of Ping-Pong by the Parker Brothers game company, after the name was invented by the English firm J. Jaques and Son. -
Ping-Pong Association
The Ping-Ping Association was formed and then renamed the Table Tennis Association in 1922. This is important because this shows that table tennis began getting more recognition as a sport. -
World Championships
The first World Championships were held in London in 1926. This started the world's recognition of the sport on the competitive level. -
English Table Tennis Association
After being introduced years before to England, the English Table Tennis Association was formed in 1927. This event marks the expansion of table tennis to other parts of the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis -
Rubber
In the 1950s, paddles switched to an outside rubber sheet and underlying sponge padding to enhance the speed and spin of the game. -
Beer Pong
Beer Pong emerged out of Table Tennis in fraternities from Dartmouth in the 1950s and 1960s. This marks the evolution of the game into social culture and integrating young people into the game. -
Ping-Pong Diplomacy
During the Cold War tensions were high between China and the US. Through table tennis the countries were able compete peacefully. -
Olympics
Table Tennis is first played in the Olympics in Seoul 1988. This event marks the international recognition of the sport and the love of the game worldwide. -
Forrest Gump
In Forest Gump, Forest is seen playing table tennis and being part of Ping-Pong Diplomacy. This scene in Forrest Gump brings table tennis's importance in history to the silver screen in a classic movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvJ4wh1kwR8