WPF IS THE FIRST PICKLEBALL
ORGANIZATION TO BE GRANTED
A MEETING BY THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT SPORTS BUREAU
W
orld Pickleball
Federation (WPF)
President Seymour
Rifkind and fellow
WPF board member/Global Chinese
Pickleball Federation Executive
Chairman Qingmin Wang, along
with other members of the Chinese
federation, met with Chairman Lin
and her associates of the Chinese
Government Sports Bureau in
Guangzhou, China, to discuss the
“Sports City” being planned in
Guangzhou.
Although pickleball is not
yet an Olympic sport, which is
a requirement for getting an
audience with government officials
at the sports bureau, WPF’s growing
reputation on the world stage,
along with Wang’s influence,
allowed WPF to present a case for
including pickleball in the planned
Sports City.
The group was able to share the
tremendous growth pickleball
has experienced globally the past
few years along with the benefits
it brings to a community. A
presentation was prepared that
highlighted both the economic
benefits of pickleball and the
mental, physical and social health
benefits.
WPF’s presentation was well-
received and was followed by a
question-and-answer period lasting
approximately one hour. Future
meetings with WPF are being
planned for 2020 with Government
Sports Bureaus in Shanghai and
other Chinese cities.
This could be a historic step
forward for pickleball. The Chinese
government can, and often does,
invest hundreds of millions of
dollars in sports that it believes
China could dominate. Based on
past performances in table tennis
and badminton, along with the
Chinese athletes’ training and
work ethic, is there any doubt of
their potential and capabilities in
pickleball?
China also has a great deal of
influence on countries throughout
Asia. Investments in additional
facilities and training centers such
as those presented and planned by
WPF will help attract more players
from around the world, along with
larger company sponsors—all of
which are so vital for the continued
growth and recognition of our great
sport. •
WPF President Seymour Rifkind and Chairman Lin of the Chinese Government Sports Bureau.
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