The Fifth "Amity Cup" International Table Tennis Philanthropic Tournament convened in Nanjing City, drawing 141 teams and 866 participants from 32 countries, fostering international relations.
According to the Amity Foundation, the event, held from October 19 to 20, was co-organized by China’s faith-based Amity Foundation and Word4Asia Consulting International from the U.S., along with other organizations. This year's tournament set a new record for the number of participants in the "Amity Cup."
This is the first international philanthropic Ping Pong tournament, with approximately 160 foreign participants from the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Kenya. Among them, 74 foreign table tennis enthusiasts who have lived and studied in Jiangsu for a long period participated the event.
The tournament's theme, "People to People Connectivity, Table Tennis Together for Love," reflects its mission, which is to use the funds raised to provide table tennis equipment to schools in underdeveloped areas and to invite world table tennis champions to offer professional guidance to the children within the school.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from the political and sports sectors, including Mr. Xu Yinsheng, honorary president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and Mr. Li Jun, vice president of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges. International guests included Dr. Gene Wood, president of Word4Asia Consulting International, and Mr. Robert (Rick) Wesley, Jr., chair of the Board of Trustees of the Outreach Foundation in the U.S. The guests emphasized that table tennis is not only a competitive sport but also a bridge for fostering cultural understanding and international friendship.
The competition is organized into four categories: the international group, the Chinese youth group, the middle-aged group, and the senior group. It kicked off with a round-robin match, followed by knockout matches in the second round. Foreign teams that participated include the Outreach Foundation, the AmCham Shanghai Globetrotters, and the American Ping Pong Friends. The "Friendly Match" allowed table tennis enthusiasts from various countries to engage in a relaxed and enjoyable setting, fostering cross-cultural exchanges.
An exhibition area outside the competition venue featured displays on three main themes: "History of Sino-U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy," "Works of the Amity Philanthropy and Calligraphy and Painting Institute," and "Amity Charity Projects," showcasing the integration of sports, art, traditional culture, and charity.
Since its first launch in 2018, the four previous "Amity Cup" Table Tennis Philanthropy Tournaments have drawn nearly 3,000 Ping Pong enthusiasts from across China, raising close to 5 million yuan in donations, which has supported various public welfare and charity projects, including poverty alleviation, student assistance, elderly care, and support for the disabled.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
