On July 18th and 19th, 2024, the Pickleball competitions of the EuroGames Vienna 2024 took place at Racketworld in Vienna-Ottakring. For the second time since Nijmegen 2022, Pickleball was part of the major event’s program.
Over 4000 Participants in Vienna
The EuroGames are the largest multisport event that celebrates diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual characteristics. The main goal of the event is to create a safe space for everyone to engage in sports together. The event, which took place from July 17th to 20th, 2024, gathered 4,000 LGBTIQ+ athletes and friends in over 30 sports disciplines. The motto “Embrace Diversity” was the central message to promote inclusion, unity, and the joy of sports. At Karlsplatz in Vienna, the EuroGames Village was set up with a huge stage as a hotspot for social gatherings after sports.
Two Home Wins and Two Swiss Wins
Almost 40 participants from nine nations contributed to 60 entries in various Pickleball draws. On the first day, the decisions were made in the Open Gender Double. At skill level 1-3 (beginners), the Swiss Thorsten Heinke and Ivan Mattia Rossi won. The category 3.5+ (advanced) went to the PFA top players Thomas Knapp and Bernhard Tintel. Four draws were held on the second day of the tournament. The tournament organizers Barbara Szabo, Bernhard Tintel, and Peter Robic, ensured a smooth event. In the Mixed Gender Double category 1-3, the duo James Hodges (GBR) and Sophia Shek (HKG) won; the category 3.5+ was won by the Austrian Mixed Doubles Champions 2024 Ashley Simpson/Thomas Knapp. The women’s competitions formed the crowning finale: In the Female Identified Double category 1-3, Sara Schläppi and Tanja Saller from Switzerland won. The category 3.5+ victory was secured by the Americans Marina Heatzig/Jennifer Johnson. Since there was no Pickleball competition at the EuroGames in Bern 2023, the joy was all the greater among the victorious Swiss winners.
The tournament draws: Open Gender Doubles 1-3 | Open Gender Doubles 3.5+ | Mixed Gender Doubles 1-3 | Mixed Gender Doubles 3.5+ | Female Identified Doubles 1-3 | Female Identified Doubles 3.5+
Photo album on Facebook (free use of photos with © RACKETISTA – Renate Schwarzmüller): Link to the album
More about the EuroGames
The EuroGames are awarded annually to a city in Europe by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), which advocates for the participation of LGBTIQ+ individuals in sports and the fight against homophobia and transphobia in sports. After it became known that Vienna 2024 had won the bid, the Pickleball Federation Austria, in cooperation with the European Racketlon Union (ERU), worked to ensure that Pickleball was included in the sports program of this unique event. PFA President Peter Robic: “We are proud that Pickleball was able to be part of this great event. We are pleased that in addition to top domestic players, so many international and also some newcomers were present. It is nice to see that the participants are committed to fighting homophobia and transphobia.”
