City to Host Pickleball National Championships

Published on: 2018/07/21 - in Releases

Kingston has won the right to host the 2019 and 2020 Pickleball National Championships, backhanding challenges from Burnaby, British Columbia and Red Deer, Alberta.

Kingston will welcome almost 1,000 participants from across Canada from June 27-30, 2019 and June 25-28, 2020 to compete at INVISTA Centre. The tournament is expected to have an economic impact of $2 million to the city over two years.

“Pickleball is among Canada’s fastest growing sports and we see its popularity here in Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Kingston is happy to welcome the 2019 and 2020 National Pickleball Championships to our beautiful INVISTA Centre and look forward to these exciting events growing the awareness and popularity of this great sport.”

The game is played on a court similar to a tennis court, but with smaller boundaries. Usually, in teams of two, players use small paddles to volley a ball, similar to a wiffleball, back and forth over the net. The game is usually played to a score of 11. Ranging from ages 18 to 80, the National Championships welcome all level players to participate. Athletes can join in on a number of categories including, mixed doubles, doubles, and singles ranging from 3.0 to open play skill levels.

“The Kingston Pickleball Club is ecstatic to be hosting the Canadian Nationals in 2019 & 2020,” says Ryan Hanes, President of Kingston Pickleball Club. “We have hosted three successful tournaments in the last 18 months and we are ready to share our wonderful city with the broader pickleball community. Working in partnership with Tourism Kingston, we are confident that these nationals will be the best ever.”

All previous Canadian National Pickleball Championships have been held in Western Provinces and will be coming to Eastern Canada for the first time. Kingston hosted the Eastern Regional Championships in 2017 and 2018.

Pickleball Canada fulfills their mission is by selecting host cites for the annual tournaments across Canada.  Last year, the local United Way held its first annual Pickleball United tournament in Kingston.

Find out where you can try Pickleball at this City of Kingston page.


Photo: Amazon.ca
Release source: City of Kingston