PickleballÂ
Diplomacy
Building Friendships – One Relationship,
One Rally At a Time!
Thirty Montgomery County students traveled to China in 2025 for a pickleball tour and cultural exchange that included Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing. But Pickleball Diplomacy has become much more than just one trip.
MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Dr. Jeff Sullivan wrote a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping after the exchange, and Xi responded with a letter of his own, noting that young people in both countries are critical for the future relationship between the United States and China.
As 2026 begins, MCPS continues its internationally recognized Pickleball Diplomacy initiative, highlighted by two major cultural exchanges that will further strengthen educational and people-to-people ties between the United States and China. The 2026 initiative will begin with MCPS hosting a delegation from Shanghai from February 5–7, 2026, followed by the MCPS Bronze Delegation visit to China from February 13–24, 2026. The return trip will include educational, athletic, and cultural exchanges in four cities: Shenzhen, Shangyou, Hebi, and Beijing.
Pickleball Diplomacy can be expanded into other sports and between other countries. Montgomery County Public Schools hopes to build countless friendships and bonds across the world.
In The News
U.S. students hit the courts in China
CGTN Documentary – Pickleball diplomacy
"THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PICKLEBALL, THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES."
Julie Yang, MCPS School Board President
The Documentary
"THE BEAUTY OF PICKLEBALL IS JUST HOW INCLUSIVE IT IS - PICK UP A PADDLE, GET OUT THERE AND PLAY."
Dr. Jeff Sullivan, Director of Systemwide Athletics
MCPS students later visited the Chinese Embassy
Diplomacy Continues
After returning home to the United States, Montgomery County Public Schools received an official statement from Chinese President Xi Jinping through the Chinese Embassy.
Students from China visited the United States in
August & September 2025 to continue the Pickleball Diplomacy.
Photos of the visit from Chinese students:
MCPS Pickleball Diplomacy Sponsors
Want to learn more?
Media inquiries and other questions can be sent to Dr. Jeff Sullivan, the Athletic Director for Montgomery County Public Schools:
Jeffrey_K_Sullivan@mcpsmd.org
