Back in 1938, when Burlington was a little farming community of slightly over 3,000 population, a group of young men formed a league called “The Burlington Ping Pong League”, as the game of table tennis was called in those days.

In the early forties, as the game progressed and competition became stiffer, the name was changed to “The Burlington Table Tennis League” resulting in an increased number of teams.

Alex Lawrie

Champion

1954-1955

In a meeting at the Burlington Golf Club on September 14th 1971, the 125 members of the original league formed the “Burlington Table Tennis Club” to perpetuate the competitive atmosphere.

To this day, volunteers have kept the club operating in different locations across the Burlington area

In 1977, the sport was recognized by the International Olympic Committee.  In 2000, the ball size was increased to 40mm to slow down the game for improved television viewing.

The sport of table tennis has it’s origins in the 1880’s where an adaptation of lawn tennis to the dining table was improvised.  In 1900, the celluloid ball was invented and the game became very popular.  Several associations were created and the ITTF organized in 1926 the first World Championships in Berlin.  Players waited until 1952 for the advent of the sponge coverings. 

Today, over 300 million people play the game and at the Bejing Olympics, table tennis was the 5th most viewed sporting event.

Many thanks to the Burlington Historical Society for their hard work and the permission to use this picture.  Click on the picture to go their site and put names to these table tennis players and pioneers.