Ping pong party comes to Bethnal Green

Get your bats at the ready for a ping pong-themed weekend in Bethnal Green.

The two-day event at Rich Mix will celebrate the Olympic sport with the release of a film and a ping pong tournament.

The film, called Ping Pong, follows 89-year-old Les D’Arcy on his quest for sporting gold. A seven-time world champion, he is heading to Inner Mongolia to compete in the over-80s Table Tennis Championships.

Lower Clapton-based director Hugh Hartford follows eight players from five different countries as they prepare to go face each other in the competition which is as much about steely determination as winning a medal.

Eight ping pong tables will be set up at the event for partygoers to perfect their skills and big screens will show live coverage of the Olympic table tennis quarter finals.

Screenings will take place at 1pm and 5pm on August 4 and 5 at Rich Mix, 35-46 Bethnal Green Road.

Tickets are �12 and available from www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/festival/ping-pong-weekender or by calling the box office on 0207 613 7498.