Pickleball’s Big Alliance: Leading Stakeholders Unite to Shape Future of World’s Fastest-Growing Sport
The world of pickleball is set to undergo a major transformation as three leading stakeholders in the sport have announced a groundbreaking alliance to shape its future. The Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), and the Cabieses Foundation are joining forces to propel pickleball to new heights and pave the way for its inclusion in the Olympic Games by 2036.
The collaboration comes on the heels of the highly successful 2024 Pickleball World Cup in Lima, Peru, which saw 32 delegations and over 500 athletes from around the world compete for glory. The event, held at the prestigious Villa Deportiva Nacional, not only showcased top-tier competition but also served as a platform for global pickleball leaders to come together and discuss the sport’s future.
During the Pickleball Promoters World Forum, held in conjunction with the World Cup, representatives from all 32 delegations expressed their support for coordinated efforts to advance pickleball’s long-term goals. Discussions centered around global governance, positioning pickleball as a professional sport, and charting a course for its inclusion in future international competitions, including the Pan American Games in 2027.
The momentum from the World Cup carried over to the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships in Mesa, Arizona, where stakeholders continued their discussions on the roadmap to the Olympic Games. Miranda Cabieses, representing Peru, was among the participants at the event.
Hercilio Cabieses, Director of the Pickleball World Cup and Co-Founder of the Cabieses Foundation, emphasized the importance of harnessing the sport’s growing popularity to drive sustainable growth. Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, highlighted pickleball’s inclusivity as a key factor in its rapid rise and expressed a vision for the sport to reach new heights on the Olympic stage.
The alliance between PWR, DUPR, and the Cabieses Foundation is just the beginning, with plans to engage additional stakeholders to further advance pickleball globally. With discussions already underway to bring more partners on board, the future looks bright for the world’s fastest-growing sport.
