by Joe James

What’s the Story?

World Pickleball Federation (WPF) President Seymour Rifkind recently visited Poland to promote pickleball and advocate for its inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.

During his visit to Warsaw, Rifkind led a training session with members of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The event was held on a Legia court in the city, serving as a platform to promote pickleball’s expansion in the region and as a demonstration of solidarity within the sport’s community for the people of Ukraine.

In an interview with Polskie Radio, Ivan Zahorodny, a member of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation, said: “In Ukraine, in spite of the war, we try to do something for people to help them forget about this war, at least for a while, especially in the case of the men who were injured while fighting.”

Earlier this year, over 100 players took part in the first edition of the National Pickleball Day, which was organised at the tennis courts of Legia Warsaw by the Polish Pickleball Association.

The challenges posed by the ongoing conflict haven’t deterred the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation from promoting the sport, as they hosted the Kyiv Open in February.

The Recap

The WPF's president, Seymour Rifkind, visited Warsaw, Poland, to continue the global initiative to promote the sport on the weekend before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The goal is to include pickleball at the 2023 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.

As president of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA), Rifkind has visited over 40 countries, certifying pickleball teachers, and is continuing to expand the game as the WPF president.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which started in 2014, with the invasion being the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine, which last updated its casualty figures in December 2024, found there have been 43,000 Ukrainian deaths among soldiers and officers, according to the BBC.

According to the Statista Research Department on the number of Ukrainian refugees in 2025 by country, Poland has over 993,000 refugees as of February 14.

Pickleball has provided a source of relief throughout Ukrainian communities, and the training session held in Warsaw showcases the strength of the sport, but also the ties between Poland and Ukraine.

The Polish Pickleball Association was established in 2019 by Marcin Matysik, who has been spearheading the sport across the nation. Under Matysik, events like the Polish Pickleball Tour and Junior Tour have been organised and have attracted over 300 players across male and female players who have official rankings.

The fifth edition of the Joola Polish Open took place in September 2024 in Pszczyna, a town in Southern Poland. 180 players from across the globe, including Colombia, South Korea, the USA and Ukraine, with Poland players shining as they claimed titles in the Mixed Open, Doubles Open and Singles Open for both men and women.

In terms of developing coaches and the future of Polish pickleball, Pickleball Coaching International (PCI) is offering a Level 1 Certification Course, fully translated into Polish and backed by Poland’s pickleball association.

Ukraine has seen the pickleball rally behind them in the wake of the invasion with the IPF supplying resources as part of the Equipment Grant Program for communities.

The Kyiv Open this year also provided competitive opportunities for pickleball players in Ukraine and this represents a reminder of how powerful sport can be.

The PKLBull Verdict

The WPF’s presence in Poland, alongside the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation, not only highlights the growing influence of the sport in Eastern Europe but also the importance of sport in the face of conflict.

Significantly, this showcase of solidarity that occurred on the weekend before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a statement that no matter the gesture, it is still impactful and crucial that communities stick together and stand together, with sport showing itself as a powerful vessel for this.

Ukraine’s dedication to keeping pickleball expanding and developing despite the conflict is something to be applauded.

Poland is seeing pickleball grow in its county, with established opens that are destinations for players from all corners of the globe, and with official coaching certifications available, the infrastructure of the sport is being solidified.

What is happening in Ukraine exceeds sport, and finding peace and an end to this war is the only possible outcome, but it is small comfort, amongst the conflict, that sport, and in this case, pickleball, finds a way to be a beacon of unification and enjoyment for those who need it.