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Playing pickleball with Ukrainians in Warsaw

25.02.2025 21:00
The founder and president of the World Pickleball Federation visited Poland over the weekend.
Audio
Members of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation participate in a training session led by Seymour Rifkind, president of the World Pickleball Federation, on a Legia court in Warsaw, Feb. 24, 2025.
Members of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation participate in a training session led by Seymour Rifkind, president of the World Pickleball Federation, on a Legia court in Warsaw, Feb. 24, 2025.Photo: Danuta Isler/Polish Radio

Seymour Rifkind spearheads efforts to popularize the sport of pickleball around the world and lobby for its inclusion in future Olympics.

Among the participants of the training session were members of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation, and Danuta Isler spoke to one of them ahead of the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"In Ukraine, in spite of the war, we try to do something for people to help them forget about this war, at least for a while, especially in the case of men who were injured while fighting," said Ivan Zahorodny, a member of the Ukrainian Pickleball Federation.

Click on the audio player above to listen.