Ping-Pong Paddle - The National Museum of American Diplomacy

In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. Table Tennis team took a historic trip to China. Their trip was the start of what became known as “ping-pong diplomacy” and helped lay the groundwork for establishing official diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Connie Sweeris was one of the nine players. During the trip, while visiting a small, pop-up gift shop “friendship store” set up by their hosts and stocked with potential souvenirs, Sweeris was presented with this table tennis paddle made by the popular “Double Happiness” brand.

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National Museum of American Diplomacy (@NMADmuseum) / X

Expired) Exhibit: Sino-American Relations and Ping-Pong Diplomacy