Table Tennis, Gymnastics Finally Come To Philly

If you remember, last year Philadelphia’s bid for the 2016 Olympics was crushed, because local officials couldn’t bribe Olympic officials well enough, or something.

Any chance of the Olympics actually coming to Philadelphia, of course, would be protested by every other person in the city because it would make their commute longer for a few weeks, and there’d be a ton of annoying foreigners around. Fair enough. But it’s all a moot point, as the Olympics have about as much chance of happening in Seaside Heights as they do in Philadelphia.

But that doesn’t mean certain Philadelphians can’t hang on to false hope! As you may remember, people were all super excited that Philly became an “Olympic Partner,” a designation that didn’t mean anything and was shared by Birmingham and Central Oklahoma. Perhaps Philadelphia has as much chance of getting the Olympics as Central Oklahoma.

And, as such, Philadelphia is now hosting both the gymnastics and table tennis Olympic trials for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Philadelphia previously landed the US Olympic team’s gymnastics trials set for June of next year. [Philly Olympic committee chair Joe] Torsella says Philadelphia is one of only two US cities — the other is Las Vegas — to host two Olympic trials: “Each event is a building block for the future. You begin to build a relationship with people, athletes, organizers and the sport as a whole.”

Yes! Philadelphia, ping pong capital of the East Coast! Are they holding the Olympic trials at Bob & Barbara’s?

Philly to Host 2008 Olympic Ping-Pong Trials [KYW 1060]