'Whiff whaff' hometown welcomes Olympic paddlers

LONDON - When Beijing handed the Olympic baton over to London in 2008, Mayor Boris Johnson proudly told the world that "Ping-pong is coming home." With less than a week to go, the hometown of "whiff whaff" is making last-minute efforts to create a competition venue up to the Olympic standards.

The London 2012 table tennis competition will be played at the ExCeL Center, the largest competition venue at the London 2012 Games. The gigantic exhibition mall-turned venue will also host fencing, weightlifting, taekwondo and judo competitions during the Games.

Getting lost is possible for first-time visitors, as the center is made up of five different arenas, each of which will be hosting different sports during the Games and will have its own unique spectators zone.

London 2012 Games Organizers have published the estimated walking times from security check points to different arenas inside the ExCeL. They also advised spectators to arrive early so they could have plenty of time to get through airport-style security screening and get to the right arena.

David Henshaw, venue photo manager at the ExCeL, said the newly renovated center is the largest competition venue in Europe. "From the south end to the north, it's 688 steps in total. The venue is big."

He said the table tennis arena was an empty hall two months ago. Construction of the Olympic arena started in June. The finished arena can host 6,000 spectators. Engineers are still doing the final checks, fixing cables and adjusting the lighting.

Olympic paddlers have been training at the arena for several days. Andy Pereira, the sole player of Cuba, said he started training at ExCeL Center on July 17 and was still trying to get used to the sky blue flooring.

"I feel OK now. But in the beginning, I feel too heavy. It's like glue. My legs stay (on the floor). I am used to play on the red floor. Now that I've practiced for many days, I can move," Pereira said.

The size of table tennis arena might also be something different to the players. Portuguese player Joao Monteiro said he felt the crowds will be closer to the field in the arena. "Normally, you have spectators little far from the players. But this time it's different."

The London 2012 table tennis competition will be played at the ExCeL Center from July 28 to Aug 8. A total of 173 athletes, 86 men and 87 women, will compete in four events.

China has won 20 of 24 gold medals available since table tennis was introduced into the Olympics in 1988. Four years ago in Beijing, it took away all six medals in the men's and women's singles, plus gold in both team events.