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North American Olympic Qualifying Table Tennis Tournament 

Wiff-waff anyone? Also known as ping-pong, table tennis originated in 19th-century upper-class British parlors as a game that mimicked tennis but used cigar box covers to hit a ball of yarn or shaved champagne cork across a wall of books on a table. An Olympic sport since 1988 but almost unwatchable game until the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when the ball size was increased and paddle material was changed to slow down the lightning-quick action, it is now possible for mere-mortal eyes to watch the ball and its trajectory. In February, the Indy ran a cover story by Marc Maximov that explained the two-stage qualification structure in Cary; this weekend's contests will determine the final U.S. and Canada team spots at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The competition runs Friday–Sunday; single-session tickets are $7, daily tickets are $10, and a three-day pass is $30. Once the Trials begin on Friday, single-session tickets will be $10 and daily tickets will not be sold. —Christina Cass