19 Chait, Kathmandu. A special friendly table tennis program under ‘Relay Around the World’ was completed on Thursday morning at the Earthquake Commemorative Multi-Purpose Covered Hall of NOC at Dallu Awas in Kathmandu.

Organized by the French Embassy in Nepal and coordinated by Nepal Olympic Committee and All Nepal Table Tennis Association, this event aims to strengthen diplomatic and community relations through sports.

In that event, the spirit of ‘Global Embassy Sports Initiative’ was put into practice by connecting professional players, local students and various stakeholders on one platform.

A key feature of the program was inclusive participation, where people of different abilities and age groups participated together, rising above the confines of traditional competition.

Instead of keeping high-level champion players and apprentices separately, the organizers mixed them together at the same table and conducted practice and games. This strategic exercise has helped to develop a sense of mutual support and unity while erasing the players’ ability and generational differences.

This ‘relay’ event, which is carried out by French embassies around the world in turn, has taken the form of a global campaign to bridge the gap between people of different social backgrounds and generations.

In the program, Virginie Corteval, Ambassador of France to Nepal, explained sports not only as a competition, but as a strong tool for building world peace, harmony and a healthy civil society.

Similarly, Jeevan Ram Shrestha, President of Nepal Olympic Committee, expressed his belief that the event, which was organized by imbibing basic values, excellence, respect and friendship, strengthened the bilateral relations between Nepal and France at the civil level.

Nepal Olympic Committee Secretary General Rajeev Shrestha and other officials, employees of the French Embassy, ​​athletes and journalists were present in the program.