In April, about 30 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) student-athletes went to China for a 12-day, 3-city pickleball tour.
On Saturday, the pickleball team will premiere a 30-minute documentary from the trip at a Chinese dignitary’s home in Washington, D.C. The documentary will be made available to the public on the MCPS YouTube Channel.
The athletes went to Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing, to have a friendly competition in each city.
“Words cannot express how thankful we are for this opportunity to visit China and make lifelong friendships and memories,” MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan wrote in a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping last month.
“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.”
Sullivan said they received a response on Sunday.
“We are deeply honored to receive President Xi’s response, speaking to the positive impact of Pickleball Diplomacy and fostering friendship through sport. We are extremely proud of our student ambassadors and forever grateful for the hospitality we received in China,” Sullivan wrote on social media.
Next month, the pickleball team will be formal guests at the Chinese Embassy to celebrate the trip.
MCPS is said to be the first school district in the U.S. to offer pickleball as a varsity sport. It is an inclusive sport accessible to students with disabilities.
We are deeply honored to receive President Xi’s response, speaking to the positive impact of Pickleball Diplomacy and fostering friendship through sport. We are extremely proud of our student ambassadors and forever grateful for the hospitality we received in China. @MCPS
🇨🇳🤝🇺🇸 https://t.co/xz9p100F0U— Jeff Sullivan (@mcpsAD) July 6, 2025
