Wed 6 August 2008 / Mer 6 Awst 2008

Supported by Chapter, Global Player is a challenging new street performance and a competitive sports event that visited Cardiff during the National Eisteddfod on 6 August 2008.

As a lead up to the Beijing Summer Olympics, a custom built table tennis table is being towed around the streets and public spaces of five British Cities. Strengthened for purpose and fitted with a towbar for ease of pulling, the table is a specially designed art object constructed by sculptor John Packer out of recycled bicycle parts.

The Global Players want to encourage members of the public to stand their ground - reclaiming public space whilst creating an exciting community performance together. Launched in Exeter on 1 August 2008, the Global Players are primed to reach all corners of the globe in the coming years. Current players speak English, German, Italian and French and for the Cardiff performance, a Welsh speaking guest player joined the team.

Global Player is a project by Exeter-based arts organisation Blind Ditch and the Global Players are Volkhardt Müller from Blind Ditch with associate artists Augusto Corrieri and Tim Dollimore. For the Cardiff event, Welsh artist Owen Griffiths joined the team as a guest player.

The Cardiff event was a huge success and the Global Players played matches in five different locations. Starting in Chapter, the players went on to pitch their table outside the entrance to the National Eisteddfod in the Pontcanna Fields, outside the National Sports Centre of Wales in Sophia Gardens, outside the Millennium Stadium and in the Hayes in the city centre. 28 matches were played in total during the day and all game statistics and edited video highlights can be found on the project’s website (see link below).

For more information about the project, the organisation Blind Ditch and statistics and images of the event in Cardiff, please visit www.blindditch.org/globalplayer or email contact@blindditch.org

Image: Global Player evnent at Chapter, 6 August 2008. Photograph: Globel Player.