Table Tennis fever is set to take over Liverpool next week as the popular Ping! is set to return for its third year.

On Tuesday 16 June, 30 ping pong tables will spring into action across the city as part of Ping! Liverpool 2015 – a programme which encourages people to participate in table tennis activities, get active and have fun at the same time.

To launch the six week initiative, a host of current and future champions will showcase their skills at tables located in Paradise Place (Liverpool One) at 11am on Tuesday.

These include GB Paralympian Jack Hunter Spivey who recently won a Doubles Gold medal at the Slovakia Open, former GB Paralympian Mark Palmer, nine times Wirral and twice Liverpool men’s singles champion Jonathan Taylor, the 2015 Liverpool O/40’s and Lancashire men’s doubles champion Steve Green.  Completing the line-up will be future stars Rhys Davies, Amy Hutchings, England player Nicole Scott, Rachael Scott and Harry Watson.

There will also be an attempt to break a Ping! record challenge as Steve Green and Jonathan Taylor will take on the challenge to successfully hit as many shots as possible in 60 seconds.

Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Tony Concepcion, will also get in on the action when he tries out his skills against Table Tennis England’s ping pong robot!

Councillor Concepcion said:

“Ping! is a hugely successful initiative and I’m sure it will be just as popular this year.

“Having all these tables located across the city means that’s convenient and easy for people to pick up a bat, and get involved in a fun, free activity.

“I’m sure we’ll see a wide range of people picking up a bat and taking the Ping! challenge – whether it’s in a friendly game, to perfect a topspin or to take on friends and family in a more competitive rally.

“I’m looking forward to dusting off my bat and testing out my skills against the robot, but I have a feeling it’s going to be stiff competition!”

The full launch day starts at 9am and runs until 5pm.

Ping! Liverpool 2015 ends on the evening of 31 July at Greenland Street’s Camp and Furnace, featuring music, live entertainment and ping pong tournaments.

More information on Ping! locations is available at www.pingliverpool.co.uk.

Liverpool has hosted this programme since 2012 and is committed to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to a play a relaxed, or competitive, game which is completely free of charge.

The programme is backed by Lottery funding from Sport England and has been organised by Table Tennis England in partnership with Liverpool City Council.

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