‘I love the sport’: Special Olympic athletes joining the growing sport of pickleball

Some Edmonton-area athletes are hoping pickleball will soon be added to the Special Olympics World Games. CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa has their story.

Special Olympic athletes in Edmonton are trying their hands at an increasingly popular sport.

Pickleball, a sport that combines tennis, badminton and table tennis, is a growing sport in Canada.

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An estimated 1.54 million Canadians play pickleball, a 57 per cent increase from 2022, according to Pickleball Canada.

In a 2025 survey, 88 per cent of people said they play pickleball for fun or enjoyment as the main motivation, as opposed to fitness or health.

The Edmonton Pickleball Club has 800 members, which is the capacity for the season.

“We’ve had to limit it because there’s been such high demand,” said Andrew Happer, the club’s president.

On Tuesdays, the club runs a program for Special Olympic athletes to come out, do drills and play pickleball.

“It’s been very positive, because they get physically active, learn how to play the game and engage with one another,” Happer said.

The program began in May and depends on volunteers to teach the athletes. The volunteers enjoy spreading their love of the game to newcomers, added Happer.

“I love the sport,” said Johathan, a Special Olympic athlete. “I love how it’s active … I like making new friends and talking to the wonderful coaches that are here to help us.”

Nicholas, another athlete, said he likes how the coaches take their time and do one-on-one instruction to help participants learn the proper forms and shots.

Pickleball isn’t an Olympic sport yet - it doesn’t have the necessary factors, including global reach and a standardized competitive structure, according to the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association - but if it makes its Olympic debut, Johathan and Nicholas said they’d be ready to compete for gold.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa