My heart sank upon seeing the footage of Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama striding into a school sports hall for a 'spontaneous' spot of table tennis during the latter's state visit to the UK. With their sleeves rolled up, the high fives on the rare occasion neither spooned a

My heart sank upon seeing the footage of Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama striding into a school sports hall for a ‘spontaneous’ spot of table tennis during the latter’s state visit to the UK. With their sleeves rolled up, the high fives on the rare occasion neither spooned a shot 30ft from the table and actually won a rally made the whole scene seem woefully engineered to cast both men in a fun-loving, easy-going light. Surely though it would have made sense to pick a sport with which they could actually impress their audience rather than appearing like children being taught the game for the first time, receiving words of encouragement every time one of their teenage opponents had to scramble to the other side of the room to retrieve the ball? But perhaps table tennis plays well with voters in Middle America and Middle England - admittedly, they did look increasingly statesmen-like with each sweaty embrace. And, of course, very much down with the kids.

Simon Liddle

Photograph: Paul Hackett/PA