Nearly a half-century ago, one small act of kindness changed the course of history. On Saturday in Shanghai, this remarkable series of events will be commemorated in a historically appropriate manner. The Chinese Table Tennis Museum, located in the Huangpu District, will host a table tennis tournament. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the tournament celebrates "Ping-Pong Diplomacy." It all began at the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan. A member of team USA named Glenn Cowan missed his team's bus from the practice facility. Characteristically unfazed, Cowan caught a ride with the Chinese team. While this might not sound like a big deal, it was. In the early 1970s, China and the USA were in a bitter diplomatic stalemate lingering for two decades after the Korean War. In a later interview, China's star player Zhuang Zedong recalls sitting in silence for most of the bus ride, pondering the animosity he had been raised to feel toward Americans. As Zhuang recalled, "The trip on the bus took 15 minutes, and I hesitated for 10 minutes. I grew up with the slogan 'Down with the American imperialism!' And during the Cultural Revolution, the string of class struggle was tightened unprecedentedly, and I was asking myself, 'Is it okay to have anything to do with your No. 1 enemy?'" In the end, he answered yes. He plumbed his bag for a gift to break the ice. Cowan fumbled through his to reciprocate, setting off a chain reaction that no one could have anticipated. Soon, the USA team was invited to play friendly matches in China, who politely shelved their indomitable skills for the visit with the motto "Friendship first, competition second." Next, the Chinese team was invited to the USA. Sensing an opportunity, politicians on both sides of the Pacific scrambled to capitalize on the positive publicity. In 1972, Nixon visited China, thawing Sino-American relations. The two nations issued their first joint communique at the end of his visit. Four years later, diplomatic relations were formally established. The effects of these actions have influenced not only both nations but the entire world, in everything from war and peace to economics and culture. The Shanghai tournament this Saturday pays homage to this legacy and the small acts of kindness that set it in motion. Registration closes Thursday, but the opportunity to effect positive change is always open. .

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