The Triangle

Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Evan Rosen The 2008 National Team Trials in Table Tennis, the U.S. Olympic Team trials event of the year, began January 10. Philadelphia will be one of only two cities in the world to host two trial events for the Beijing Olympics when Gymnastics Olympic Trials are also held in the city this June.

On the eve of one of the biggest events to hit Drexel University this decade, nothing filled the room but elation.

As a Ben Franklin impersonator greeted guests and the sound of drums and cymbals resonated through the room during the Dragon Dance, one thing was for certain - the road to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will go through Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Drexel and the Philadelphia Sports Congress hosted a welcome reception Jan. 9 at the Paul Peck Alumni Center in celebration of the 2008 Olympic & National Team Trials - Table Tennis, the first U.S. Olympic Team trials event of this year.

Drexel's mascot, Mario the Magnificent Dragon, danced to international music while Olympic Trials participants, officials and Drexel faculty sipped their wine in anticipation for the ensuing events taking place the following day.

The event, in combination with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - gymnastics coming to Philadelphia later this June, makes Philadelphia one of two U.S. cities to host two U.S. Olympic Team Trials events, which leads up to the 2008 Olympic Games.

Jan. 10 marks the official start of the qualifying tournament, while the trials take place from Jan. 11 through Jan. 13.

On only his second day as the Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter expressed his enthusiasm for Drexel.

"I'm pleased to be an official Dragon," Nutter said. "Any opportunity the city of Philadelphia has to partner with Drexel is a great opportunity for the city of Philadelphia. This is the kind of activity that we need to have in Philadelphia."

The planning and execution for the Olympic Trials brought the Drexel community together.

"I think that's what sports does. It really brings the community together," Eric Zillmer, Drexel's director of athletics, said. "I think we're smart, aggressive and entrepreneurial and a lot of our students are like that."

Continued...

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