Connie & Dell Sweeris
Connie & Dell Sweeris
Grand Rapids (WZZM)- Many people know it as ping pong but to the world it's table tennis and next year hundreds of the best players on earth are coming to Grand Rapids.
"They expect over 600 competitors, maybe as many as 800," says Mike Guswiler, Director of the West Michigan Sports Commission.
USA Table Tennis has picked Grand Rapids to host the U.S. Table Tennis Open next summer.
Former Table Tennis Open champions Dell Sweeris and wife Connie live in Caledonia and helped the West Michigan Sports Commission bring the tournament to Grand Rapids.
"Now the ball is in our court," says Dell. "It's a challenge. We want to do our best."
To attract the U.S. Table Tennis Open the Amway Hotel Corporation agreed to pay much of the prize money.
The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel will be tournament headquarters.
The competition will be in the DeVos Place Convention Center.
"All the halls will be opened," says Guswiler. "90 tables will be operating with one championship table surrounded by about 1,500 seats."
Anyone who has ever played ping pong has a basic understanding of table tennis rules. But the professionals say most people will be surprised by the speed and skill of the U.S. Open contestants.
"People will be amazed by the U.S. Open caliber," says Connie Sweeris.
"The ball travels 60 to 90 miles an hour," says Dell. "You've got to have fast reflexes. "It's a very fast, very powerful game. They will be impressed."
The U.S. Table Tennis Open is scheduled for June 30 through July 3, 2010. It will lead into the Grand Rapids 4th of July festivities.
Because it is an "open" anyone who thinks they have enough game is welcome to pay the entry fee and compete.
By Phil Dawson