Table Tennis Trials hit D.U.
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: News
Drexel was aggressive enough to beat out five other cities, including San Diego.
"We took an incredible proposal against all odds," Zillmer said. "We took a risk, but we put a lot of work into it."
Joseph Torsella, president & CEO of the National Constitution Center and chair of the Olympic and International Sports Project, said that he hoped Philadelphia would be one of the sites for Olympic Trial events.
"We wanted Philadelphia to be a bigger player in the Olympic sports," Torsella said. "Now that we're here, we want to find our way back."
Mike Cavanaugh, interim and executive director of USA Table Tennis said that table tennis is lucky to have such a great city hosting the Olympic Trials.
"This is what our sport deserves," Cavanaugh said. "We would love to come back and make Philadelphia home for our sport."
Having the Olympic Trials at Drexel for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 isn't the only bond Drexel and China share.
"We have over 35 professors who were born in China," University President Constantine Papadakis said. "But the real connection was formed back in October 1997, when the President of China came to the United States. After he met with President Bill Clinton, he visited Drexel University in Philadelphia."
Philadelphia isn't the only place that is excited for Table Tennis.
"Everybody is excited about the Olympic Trials," Consul He Bin, People's Republic of China's Consul of Scientific Research, said. "This is an incredible opportunity for us."
Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world and ranked second overall in terms of participation. Over 10 million players compete in sanctioned tournaments each year.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held Aug. 8 to Aug. 24.
"We took an incredible proposal against all odds," Zillmer said. "We took a risk, but we put a lot of work into it."
Joseph Torsella, president & CEO of the National Constitution Center and chair of the Olympic and International Sports Project, said that he hoped Philadelphia would be one of the sites for Olympic Trial events.
"We wanted Philadelphia to be a bigger player in the Olympic sports," Torsella said. "Now that we're here, we want to find our way back."
Mike Cavanaugh, interim and executive director of USA Table Tennis said that table tennis is lucky to have such a great city hosting the Olympic Trials.
"This is what our sport deserves," Cavanaugh said. "We would love to come back and make Philadelphia home for our sport."
Having the Olympic Trials at Drexel for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 isn't the only bond Drexel and China share.
"We have over 35 professors who were born in China," University President Constantine Papadakis said. "But the real connection was formed back in October 1997, when the President of China came to the United States. After he met with President Bill Clinton, he visited Drexel University in Philadelphia."
Philadelphia isn't the only place that is excited for Table Tennis.
"Everybody is excited about the Olympic Trials," Consul He Bin, People's Republic of China's Consul of Scientific Research, said. "This is an incredible opportunity for us."
Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world and ranked second overall in terms of participation. Over 10 million players compete in sanctioned tournaments each year.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held Aug. 8 to Aug. 24.
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