The two international pickleball governing bodies, the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF), have begun merger talks.
The merger talks were initiated at a recent meeting of the five Pickleball Continental Federations (5CF) and these two international bodies.
Five Continental Federations
The five continental federations are the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP), the North American Pickleball Federation, the South American Pickleball Association, the European Pickleball Federation (EPF), and the Oceanic Pickleball Federation.
The 5CFs called for the two federations to initiate discussions to find common ground regarding the governance of pickleball at the global level.
Initial Meetings
In their two initial meetings, Mr. Arvind Prabhoo, President of the IPF, and Mr. Seymour Rifkind, President of the WPF, concurred in principle that an international pickleball federation must have an open democratic process of governance, be inclusive, and be administered by its member countries.
They also agreed the principle of “one country, one vote” should be universally embraced by all members. The leaders of both organizations also acknowledged that several key factors and issues will require attention before unification can be achieved.
Both leaders concluded the initial rounds of talks with confidence that the remaining issues were not insurmountable. This is promising news for the sport of pickleball, and the international federations are eagerly anticipating a united pickleball future.
Future Olympics
For pickleball to gain acceptance as a sport in future Olympic Games, the sport must be represented by a single international governing body.
The World Pickleball Federation (WPF) is an international pickleball organization with a mission to promote inclusivity, sportsmanship, and excellence.
The WPF orchestrates events, provides support to athletes, and shares the joy of pickleball with enthusiasts worldwide.
The International Pickleball Federation (IPF) was established to facilitate the global growth and advancement of pickleball. The IPF is diligently working towards the objective of obtaining recognition for pickleball as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by the year 2032.
Further Information
For further information about the IPF, please contact Karen Long – IPF Secretary.
For additional information about the WPF, please contact WPF President Seymour Rifkind.
Social Media Manager
In other news, The IPF is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Camila Picheth as the Social Media Manager.
Ms. Picheth presently serves as a digital media strategist and copywriter with a professional background encompassing various sectors ranging from tech startups to well-established firms.
This showcases her adaptable proficiency in digital communication and storytelling.
Her enthusiasm for pickleball stemmed from the discovery of its distinctive and engaging qualities, as well as its positive impact on people’s lives.
At the International Pickleball Federation, her objective is to leverage her digital media expertise and creative talents to actively engage the global pickleball community and foster the growth of the sport.
In her capacity as the Social Media Manager for the IPF, Ms. Camila Picheth will oversee the federation’s social media marketing efforts and engagement initiatives.
She will collaborate closely with our Marketing team and assume a crucial role in conveying the organization’s voice while ensuring consistent branding across social platforms. Her responsibilities will encompass presenting stories, achievements, upcoming advocacy and fundraising events, as well as general content dissemination.
The Board of Directors extends a warm welcome to Ms. Picheth as a valued addition to the Executive Committee of the Federation.
