Ping! returns to Plymouth

It’s ‘game on’ again in Plymouth this summer, with Datto Ping! serving up another fantastic festival of free ping pong until 21 August.

This year’s event will boast a record number of tables, bats and balls bouncing into 27 sites around Plymouth, from parks and shopping centres to the Armada Way piazza and Royal William Yard.

Ping! Plymouth is being delivered by Table Tennis England in partnership with our Sports Development Unit and is funded by Sport England. The aim is to get the nation active and enjoying playing ping pong, as well as build a community who want to continue playing table tennis long after the festival is over.

It’s completely free to take part – all you have to do is grab one of the bats and balls provided, find a willing opponent and get playing!  As well as free-play, Ping! Plymouth will be holding ‘random acts of ping pong’ at the tables, including those in the Team GB FanZone.

Staff from the Sports Development Unit will be regularly dropping by to provide hints and tips and run games. There will also be a pop-up Ping! Parlour at the Methodist Central Hall (opposite Marks & Spencer) every Thursday from 1pm to 3pm.

Councillor Glenn Jordan, Cabinet Member for Culture, said: “Ping! Plymouth was a huge success last summer and events like this are a great way of encouraging people to be more physically active. We’re really excited to be bringing ping pong to the people again this year!

Sports Development Manager Louise Kelley added: “Table tennis can be enjoyed by everyone; young and old, expert and novice, able bodied and disabled. It’s also fun, good for your health and easy to learn, so find a table near you and give it a go.”

The festival aims to get everyone playing and enjoying table tennis and to leave behind a legacy of long-term opportunities to play. While the Datto Ping! festival only lasts for the summer months, many of the tables will remain in play for the rest of the year, encouraging everyone to play on.

Visit the Ping! Plymouth website and enter your postcode to find your nearest table.