A documentary entitled Pickleball Diplomacy: Student-Athletes to Ambassadors has been released, following its premiere on July 12, 2025 as part of the first reunion of the delegation. The red-carpet premiere was held at Shanyuan, the Washington, DC residence of Mr. Zhou Zhixing and Ms. Yu Shan, supporters of the delegation. The documentary highlights the story of Pickleball Diplomacy, as 30 student-athlete ambassadors from Montgomery County Public Schools built friendships through sport, in their travels to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing during an exchange trip in April.
The documentary is available in English and Chinese on the MCPS YouTube channel:
Pickleball Diplomacy, and the impact of the delegation’s travel, has garnered attention across China and beyond, following the receipt of a formal response from Chinese President Xi Jinping to a letter of gratitude from the pickleball ambassadors. The exchange trip occurred as part of an initiative to bring 50,000 U.S. youth to China in a five-year span.
The delegation will also be honored guests at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Media will be invited to attend this event.
Questions and inquiries should be directed to Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan, MCPS director of systemwide athletics and Pickleball Diplomacy delegation leader, via email at Jeffrey_K_Sullivan@mcpsmd.org.
