Client Announcements

Sainsbury's nets role to serve Table Tennis champs

SAINSBURY’S NETS ROLE TO SERVE TABLE TENNIS CHAMPS

- Supermarket chain will provide mentoring support for British Table Tennis Federation

- World famous game had its origins in England on Victorian dinner tables

- Retailer will provide BTTF with food for thought through provision of expert management advice

Sainsbury’s managers will temporarily shift their focus from the nation’s dinner tables to the table tennis table as they provide support to the British Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) as part of the FTSE – British Olympic Association Initiative.

Sainsbury’s brief will be to provide management advice to the BTTF on a range of organisational matters.

Rob Crumbie, Head of Sponsorship at Sainsbury’s, who will be leading the project said: “We’re particularly pleased to have been selected for this important mentoring role and we’re looking forward to constructive back and forth dialogue? with the BTTF as they gear up for success on the world stage.”

Sainsbury’s and table tennis share a similar home on the British dinner table. The game has its origins in England as an after-dinner amusement for upper-class Victorians in the 1880s. Players took their cue from the game of tennis, bringing it into in an indoor environment, where everyday objects were enlisted to act as the equipment. A line of books would be the net, a rounded top of a Champagne cork or knot of string as the ball, and a cigar box lid as the racket.

The popularity of the game led game manufacturers to sell the equipment commercially. Early rackets were often pieces of parchment stretched upon a frame, and the sound generated in play gave the game its first nicknames of “whiff-whaff” and “Ping-pong.”

Alex Murdoch, Chairman of BTTF, said: “I am delighted that the BTTF is partnering one of Britain’s leading and progressive companies – Sainsbury’s – in this ground breaking initiative. The expertise they will bring to the table is something money can�t buy and will be invaluable and allow us to make sure that we are a first class organisation delivering all the services our athletes need as they prepare for 2012.”

Rob Crumbie added: “Table tennis is a brilliant and accessible sport that we have been supporting through our Active Kids programme for several years. With the wealth of major world competitive events in the coming years, we’re delighted to be able to provide broader guidance to the BTTF that we hope will help British table tennis go from strength to strength.”

“We’re more accustomed to serving our customers meals than serving for the match and we’re looking forward to getting together around a table with the BTTF. Perhaps we’ll clear the sandwich trays away and have a knock-about after the meetings. I have a pretty devastating top spin!”

Darius Knight, one of Britain’s leading table tennis stars, will be demonstrating his skills in Sainsbury’s atrium in High Holborn on Thursday 13th March at 11am to celebrate the announcement of Sainsbury’s partnering BTTF and joining the FTSE-BOA Initiative.

- Ends –

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