09/28/2024
Press Release:
"Ping Pong Man" Returns to China for Historic Goodwill Tour
50 Years After Ping Pong Diplomacy
Colorado Springs, CO, September 2024 – In 1972, Scott Preiss was a local ping pong prodigy, unbeaten in his neighborhood and at school. His talent was so well-known that even his gym teacher, Mr. Kimmel, once pulled him out of class just to challenge him in a game. But the real turning point came when the U.S. Table Tennis Team, fresh off their historic Ping Pong Diplomacy tour in China, appeared at the Huntington Mall near Scott's home.
George Braithwaite, a member of that pioneering U.S. team and an employee of the United Nations, offered Scott a challenge. After watching him play, Braithwaite decided to give the young enthusiast a 14-point spot in a 21-point game. The match ended 21-19, with Braithwaite claiming victory, but that experience ignited a lifelong passion for table tennis in Scott.
From that match at the Long Island Mall, Scott's journey has spanned more than 50 years, culminating in his induction into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame. His love for the sport has taken him across the world, promoting table tennis through more than 3000 exhibitions and clinics.
Now, Scott Preiss has come full circle. The Chinese Table Tennis Association and their partners have extended a special invitation to Scott to participate in the Amity Cup, a "friendship first" table tennis competition featuring 128 teams, with only 12 from international destinations. This event, which promotes global unity and peace through sport, will be held at the Nanjing Olympic Stadium, with additional exhibition matches in Shanghai.
Scott will be joined on the U.S. team by his son, Austin Preiss, who has performed alongside his father since he was just three years old. Now 30, Austin is a former world-class player and multiple-time Colorado State Singles and Doubles Champion. Leading the U.S. delegation is Scott's wife, Hong Yu Preiss, a Shanghai native and former interpreter for the United States and Chinese Olympic Committees. Hong Yu has also spent years teaching Chinese language and culture in the U.S., and she has been married to Scott for 35 years.
The Amity Cup is organized by Word4Asia Consulting and the Amity Foundation, with proceeds supporting poverty-stricken areas around the globe. The event also aims to strengthen peace between nations by fostering friendships through table tennis.
For Scott Preiss, this trip to China is a symbolic return to the country that played a key role in sparking his lifelong dedication to table tennis. Fifty years after the historic Ping Pong Diplomacy, the "Ping Pong Man" is ready to exchange friendships once again on the international stage.
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Scott Preiss at [email protected] on
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