Baoding Golden Autumn Sports Carnival and the first Pickleball Exchange Tournament. (Information film) Photo by Luo Daqing
Internet celebrity sports, popular passwords, trendy new balls… As a trendy sport that is easy to learn and full of fun, pickleball is highly praised online and has countless “fans”.
This winter, the “new Internet celebrity” pickleball made its debut in Baoding, setting off a new generation of sports.
On November 26, the “Li Ning Cup” 2024 First China Pickleball Tour Baoding Open opened at the Baoding College Gymnasium. This is the first national pickleball event to be held in Baoding. It is also the city of Baoding that uses competitions to expand emerging events. It is an important move to create sports event IP and enhance the influence of the urban brand.
In March 2024, the first China Pickleball Tour was established. The competition was hosted by the Small Ball Sports Management Center of the State Sports General Administration and the China Pickleball Sports Working Committee. It is the most complete and international pickleball national event in China. . The competition has traveled through Xi’an, Shaanxi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Qingdao, Shandong, Beijing, Foshan, Guangdong and other provinces and cities. This Baoding stop is the ninth stop among the ten stops of this year’s Li-Ning Cup China Tour.
Why is pickleball so popular all over the country and loved by the public?
Swinging the racket passionately, hitting the ball quickly, filling each other’s positions… this is the sport of pickleball that is gradually becoming popular. To describe it in one sentence, pickleball is playing tennis on a badminton court with a large table tennis racket.
The “Investigation Report on Pickleball Sports in China” produced by the Small Ball Sports Management Center of the State Sports General Administration shows that pickleball is a typical national fitness sport that is fitness-oriented, interesting, age-appropriate, economical, and safe. People of all ages and have strong social attributes.
As for the popularity of pickleball, getting started easily is undoubtedly one of the secrets to quickly gaining fans. “Playing pickleball is low-cost and easy to get started. You can play with friends in just 5 minutes at most.” said a golfer.
It’s easier to get started than table tennis, and you can play it well even if you don’t practice for the first time; it’s cheaper than badminton. You have to use at least a bucket of badminton balls once to play badminton, which costs about 100 yuan. Pickleball is basically a plastic ball. It is not bad to play; the size of the pickleball court is the same as that of the badminton court, about one-fifth of the size of the tennis court, and the running distance is much smaller than that of tennis. Therefore, playing pickleball is very labor-saving compared to tennis.
Someone concluded that pickleball has overcome the shortcomings of the above three types of ball games and is a national sport with low threshold and low restrictions.
The amount of exercise is smaller than tennis but larger than table tennis. It can be played in singles, doubles, or mixed doubles, both indoors and outdoors. The ball is heavier than a badminton and lighter than a tennis ball. It is moderate in weight and has strong wind resistance. It is suitable for all ages, easy to use, affordable, fashionable and dynamic. In recent years, pickleball has continued to become popular around the world, gradually entering the horizons of Chinese fitness enthusiasts and becoming their new fitness choice.
But why did the popular pickleball come to Baoding?
Baoding is a veritable “City of Sports” and “Cradle of Champions” with a long history of sports culture, a solid foundation of mass sports, and a national leader in competitive sports. It has won two awards: “City of Olympic Champions” and “National Model City for National Sports and Fitness”; It has successively trained and transported 24 world champions, 36 Asian champions and 172 national champions, including 6 Olympic champions, leaving a profound “Baoding mark” in the history of New China’s sports.
“At the moment, our city is seizing the opportunity to integrate sports vitality into the city, build a pickleball learning and exchange platform, enhance Baoding’s city visibility and influence, showcase trendy sports community culture, promote fashionable and healthy lifestyles, and convey Trendy sports fun.” Wang Zhifang, chief brand officer of Darongshu Real Estate Group, said that the group takes it as its responsibility to inherit the Baoding championship spirit and promote Baoding’s championship culture. The Yulan Jiufu built by the group has become the first residential building in Baoding to win the title of national “Child-Friendly Demonstration Community” project.
In November 2024, a champion miniature museum hidden in the community-Big Banyan Tree Champion Children’s Dream Miniature Museum was officially opened. The museum covers an area of 700 square meters and displays a total of 8 Olympic, Winter Olympics, Asian Games, and Universiade torch exhibits, 5 national uniforms of Olympic champions, 8 championship medals, and mascots. At the same time, Big Banyan Tree joins hands with 12 national champions to launch the “Champion Plan” and “Champion Study Camp” activities to enable them to better integrate into community life, become children’s champion mentors, and be children’s champion friends.
Championship style builds a solid foundation for sports, and exciting events ignite the vitality of the city.
In recent years, our city has carefully planned to create a large number of unique and influential sports event brands, and developed internationally and domestically popular fashion events and fashion events with a strong sense of participation and experience according to local conditions. It has successfully held the Baoding Marathon, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Triathlon Competition, Baishi Mountain Mountaineering Festival and other large-scale household events Foreign sports events and activities; actively host high-end events such as the 2024-2025 Chinese Men’s Volleyball Super League, National Men’s Volleyball Championship, China Baoding World Kung Fu Wrestling Conference and Chinese Wrestling Invitational Tournament, and constantly polish our city’s “City of Olympic Champions” and Two sports gold business cards of “National Sports and Fitness Model City”.
When sports go out of the circle, the city shines.
Pickleball events one after another attract a large number of contestants, citizens and tourists. The small pickleball ball connects the city’s sports-loving citizens and friends, weaving a vibrant sports picture, attracting more and more people. of citizens walked into the stadium and immersed themselves in the sport.
Since this year, Baoding has worked hard to build a northern pickleball highland. Luo Mingyuan, director of the Baoding Municipal Sports Bureau, said: “Baoding will seize the opportunity to ensure the efficient and rapid development of the pickleball project, promote the in-depth integrated development of the pickleball industry, and provide the public with more diversified fitness options.”
The encounter between “pickleball” and “Baoding” is the perfect integration of trendy sports and cultural ancient cities, and it is also a “two-way rush” between sports events and urban development.
Nowadays, Baoding is taking advantage of the development of emerging sports to play a high-level ball in the pickleball promotion arena, injecting surging sports vitality into the construction of a modern city of quality life.
Original title: “The new “Internet celebrity” pickleball is creating a new trend in Baoding, the city of Olympic champions”
What long-term effects do you anticipate the “Li Ning Cup” 2024 tournament will have on Baoding, beyond its immediate economic impact? Will it inspire increased public investment in pickleball infrastructure or encourage the development of a strong local pickleball community?
## Interview: Pickleball Fever Hits Baoding
**Host:** Welcome to today’s discussion about the rising popularity of pickleball and its arrival in Baoding. We’re joined by two experts: [Guest 1 Name], [Guest 1 Title/Expertise], and [Guest 2 Name], [Guest 2 Title/Expertise].
**Section 1: Pickleball Phenomenon**
**Host:** Let’s start by addressing why pickleball is exploding in popularity. [Guest 1], what factors do you think contribute to its widespread appeal?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Examine the accessibility, social aspect, and affordability of pickleball compared to other sports.
**Host:** [Guest 2], you’ve witnessed the growth of pickleball firsthand. Could you speak to the unique elements that make it so engaging and fun for people of all ages and backgrounds?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Discuss the ease of learning, social interaction within the sport, and the sense of community it fosters.
**Section 2: Baoding’s Embrace of Pickleball**
**Host:** [Guest 1], Baoding has a strong history in sports, earning the title “City of Olympic Champions.” What made this city an ideal location to host a major pickleball event?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Analyze Baoding’s existing sports infrastructure, the city’s commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, and the potential economic benefits of hosting such events.
**Host:** [Guest 2], the “Li Ning Cup” 2024 First China Pickleball Tour Baoding Open marks a significant step for pickleball in Baoding. What are your thoughts on the long-term impact of this event on the city’s sports landscape?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Consider the potential for pickleball to become a popular community activity, the possibility of attracting further pickleball tournaments and investments, and the contribution to Baoding’s image as a modern and vibrant city.
**Section 3: The Future of Pickleball in Baoding**
**Host:** Looking forward, [Guest 1], what initiatives are being taken to further promote pickleball in Baoding and make it accessible to a wider audience?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Explore the potential for creating public pickleball courts, offering community classes and leagues, and leveraging partnerships with schools and local organizations.
**Host:** [Guest 2], how do you envision pickleball evolving in Baoding over the next few years? Do you see it becoming a mainstream sport, and what role can
the community play in its continued growth?
* **Discussion Prompt:** Speculate on the possibilities of pickleball becoming an integral part of Baoding’s culture, discuss future tournament opportunities, and explore the potential for creating a vibrant pickleball community.
**Host:** Thank you both for sharing your insights and perspectives on this exciting development. We wish Baoding continued success in establishing itself as a pickleball hub.
