Thirty student-athletes from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland traveled to China earlier this year for a pickleball tour and cultural exchange that visited Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing.

Over the weekend, the group premiered a documentary - Pickleball Diplomacy: From Student Athletes to Ambassadors - that showcased their experiences during the memorable 12-day trek that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

The documentary was made available on the MCPS YouTube Channel.

MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director, Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan, penned a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping in June to express his appreciation for the exchange.

"Words cannot express how thankful we are for this opportunity to visit China and make lifelong friendships and memories," wrote Sullivan. "On behalf of our ambassadors who had the distinct honor of defining Pickleball Diplomacy, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude for the warm hospitality, friendship, and cultural richness we experienced during our visit to your great nation. The tour offered us a remarkable opportunity not only to engage in friendly athletic competition and collaboration, but also to deepen our understanding of China’s vibrant communities and enduring cultural traditions."

Xi replied to Dr. Sullivan's message last week.

"President Xi congratulated the delegation on their successful visit and expressed happiness that pickleball had emerged as a new link for youth interaction between the two countries," according to a July 7 story in The Daily Cpec. "Xi emphasized that the future of China-U.S. relations lies in the hands of the younger generation. He expressed hope that the delegation members would serve as a new generation of friendship ambassadors, strengthening ties and understanding between the two peoples."

The pickleball team will be formal guests at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. in August to commemorate the journey as well.

MCPS was the first school district in the country to offer pickleball as a varsity sport.
The program was piloted at 11 high schools in 2023, and expanded to all 25 in 2024.