The Pickleball Federation Austria (PFA) reached another milestone in its young history on Saturday, June 6, 2026. A professional pickleball court was installed as a participation station as part of the Sport Austria Finals at Vienna’s City Hall Square (Rathausplatz).
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Pickleball in the Heart of Vienna
Against the impressive backdrop of Vienna City Hall, visitors had the opportunity to experience pickleball up close and try the sport themselves. Interest remained high throughout the day: several hundred people picked up a paddle and gave the sport a try, while many others stopped to watch the action and learn more about playing opportunities in Austria.
Court setup began as early as 7 a.m. PFA logistics partner Sport Pflug, represented by Didi Pflug and Bernhard Rauch, joined PFA President Peter Robic and PFA Ambassadors Stefan Stangl and Helmut Hübsch to build the court directly in front of the Sport Austria Finals main stage at Rathausplatz, right in the heart of Austria’s capital. PFA board members Alex Rieck and Maureen Tan supervised the court and answered questions from the numerous visitors.
“A dream came true. Being able to present pickleball in such an iconic setting was something very special. The players loved it, the weather was perfect, and the interest from visitors was tremendous. Events like this help us introduce even more people to our sport,” said PFA President Peter Robic.
Pickleball Ambassador Helmut Hübsch was equally impressed by the response: “It was fantastic to see how many people wanted to try pickleball. Many had never heard of the sport before and were surprised by how quickly they could experience success on the court. That’s exactly what makes pickleball so special.”
Austria’s Largest Multi-Sport Event Comes to Vienna
The Sport Austria Finals are Austria’s largest multi-sport event. More than 6,500 athletes from numerous sports compete for national championship titles. After being hosted in other Austrian provinces in previous years, the Sport Austria Finals were held in Vienna for the first time in 2026, transforming the city center into a major stage for Austrian sport over several days.
Enthusiasm for Pickleball at Rathausplatz
For the Pickleball Federation Austria, the event provided a unique opportunity to present the sport to a broad audience. In addition to countless interested visitors, representatives from politics and sport also took the chance to pick up a paddle. Several members of the police force and public security services joined in, while NEOS Vienna sports spokesperson Jing Hu quickly became enthusiastic about pickleball after trying it herself.
She is also expected to visit the “Bewegt im Park” program in Vienna’s Donaupark, where PFA member club Sportunion Rackathletes Austria will offer free pickleball sessions every Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. starting June 24.
An Important Step for Pickleball in Austria
Beyond the many conversations, new contacts, and first rallies played, one thing stood out above all: the enthusiasm people showed for a sport that brings generations together and appeals equally to beginners and ambitious athletes.
The successful debut at the Sport Austria Finals once again demonstrated the tremendous potential of pickleball in Austria. For the Pickleball Federation Austria, the appearance at Vienna’s Rathausplatz was not only a successful event day but also another important step toward firmly establishing pickleball within the Austrian sporting landscape.
