In July 2021 we were ready to schedule our next World Pickleball Games Summit to share our progress, hotel arrangements, communication with pro-players, update on uniform policy and sponsorship template and guidance information. Ahead of signing contracts for the hotels, we held a Gate Review (Go/No Go decision). One of the key risks identified in the Gate Review was covid-19.
We originally scheduled the Games for May 2022 believing that International Travel will be back by then. Recent weeks have demonstrated that there isn’t a general opening up of travel and that the picture is becoming quite complex (new waves in different countries, complex outbound/inbound rules by country). We see this as a major barrier for the World Pickleball Games and to countries signing up.
Since we only host the first World Pickleball Games once, we do not want to sacrifice the success of our first Games. We are also aware that countries need more help on the sponsorship side of things to help fund their teams. We therefore, reluctantly recommended to the WPF Board that we postpone the World Pickleball Games until 2023. The Board approved this recommendation. The Board further approved that the 50+ players competition will be included in the 2023 event. There will also be an exhibition event for the Juniors.
More information on the next World Pickleball Games Summit will be shared here as soon as available.