(October 28, 2011) Organizers say that rivals North and South Korea and India and
Pakistan are among 10 nations competing in the Peace and Sport table tennis tournament
in Qatar next month. The founder of Peace and Sport, Joel Bouzou, says diplomats
and government representatives from 10 countries are invited to watch the event, being
held for the first time Nov. 21-22. Also competing are players from the United States,
China, Japan, Russia, France and Qatar. Bouzou says the $100,000 tournament aims
to ``encourage dialogue between countries, to promote mutual understanding and peace.''
Organizers say the event marks the return of ``ping-pong diplomacy,'' referring to
the historic visit by a U.S. team to China in 1971.