Picture courtesy of the ITTF

‘London to London Table Tennis Comes Home’ published by the International Table Tennis Federation was officially released on Thursday 26th July 2012 at 7.00pm, at the St Bride Foundation,14 Bride Lane, London.

Book Launch at St Bride Foundation The location of the Book Launch, St Bride Foundation, is one of the many buildings in London featured in the publication that is associated with the early years of the sport.

The Guests-of-honor present were: ITTF President Mr. Adham Sharara, Sport Accord President Mr. Hein Verbruggen, Head of Sport Competition for LOCOG David Luckes, Author of London to London Mr Colin Clement, Editor of London to London Mr. Ian Marshall, and players Mr. Jean Michel Saive and Mr. Zoran Primorac.

Speeches were made by Mr. Adham Sharara and Mr. Ian Marshall, as well as special presentations to the three Table Tennis players that have participated in the Olympic Games seven times, which is every Olympic Game since the initiation of Table Tennis in 1988. The three players are: Mr. Jean Michel Saive, Mr. Zoran Primorac and Mr Jorgen Persson.

About the Book: London to London – Table Tennis Comes Home The book was inspired by the speech of Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, when at the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games he expressed the view “Whiff Whaff Comes Home”, one of the former names for table tennis.

It traces the establishment of the International Table Tennis Federation and the organization of the first World Championships, staged in London in 1926, in addition to featuring all ensuing World Championships held in England’s capital city and major events of note.

It also includes the history of table tennis in the Olympic Games, from the initial applications to the debut in Seoul in 1988 and on to the London Games in 2012, fact-files of all the table tennis gold medalists, a record of every player who has competed in the table tennis events at the Olympic Games, and a complete list of entries for London and how they gained qualification.

It is a detailed portrayal of table tennis in London and in the Olympic Games, and is a result of the efforts of Colin Clemett, a Personal Honorary Member of the International Table Tennis Federation. He conducted endless hours of research, following the initiative of Richard Scruton, the Table Tennis Competition Manager at the Olympic Games, to mark the occasion of the London Games.

By Kimberley Koh, ITTF