Spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy shines through sports

55 years ago, a chance encounter at a table tennis tournament helped open dialogue between China and the US during the Cold War. Today, the spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy continues through sports like pickleball, American football, and ice hockey, with those more niche sports creating more channels for cultural exchanges.

Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing recreational activities in the US, is also gaining popularity in China, creating new opportunities for sporting and cultural exchanges. Much like table tennis in the past, the sport is finding new fans on both sides of the Pacific. That spirit is also showcased through American athletes visiting China.

Two-time Super Bowl winner Peyton Manning is among those who have traveled to Beijing in the last decade, met with local fans, and explored Chinese culture beyond the gridiron. Fellow NFL champion Ryan Clark also spent time in the Chinese capital, where sports are firmly entrenched as a common language between professional athletes, and supporters from different backgrounds.

The next chapter in sporting ties between China and the US may already be taking shape through a new generation of athletes. Chinese ice hockey player Wang Haoxi made history after going to the San Jose Sharks with the 33rd overall pick in last year's NHL Draft, the highest-ever selection for a Chinese-born player.

More than half-a-century after Ping-Pong Diplomacy first captured the world's attention, sports continue to build bridges between China and the US: different games, different generations. But the same ability to create dialogue beyond competition.