Badminton on track as core sport in Universiade
News 2:26 PM
Badminton is well placed to be included as a compulsory sport in the Summer Universiade.
Fresh from attending the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Forum in Vigo, Spain, BWF Chair of Development and EB Member David Cabello expressed confidence that the sport was headed in the right direction to be recognised as a compulsory sport in the Universiade. 
The forum was held from 21 to 26 June and attracted 252 delegates from 71 countries and for the first time, an international sport – badminton – was promoted during the forum in a 2-hour session. Cabello reported that some 80 per cent of the participants in the Forum in Vigo participated in a game of badminton which was supervised by English-speaking coaches from Spain.
FISU President George E. Killian and other members of the Executive Board also participated in the badminton session.
“To take part in this event, thus showing BWF’s will to collaborate with FISU’s activities, has been a smart move which will strengthen our position to become a compulsory sport on the programme of the Universiade” said Cabello.
“It is coherent with our development policy and FISU is aware that we are a serious international federation with a will and the means to be involved in university sport.”
Founded in 1949, FISU is the governing body for 153 National University Sports Federations and organises the Universiade, an international sporting and cultural event staged every two years in winter and summer, and the World University Championships in various sports.
The Summer Universiade consists of 12 compulsory sports and three optional sports, on the discretion of the host country and, on the average, attracts some 10,000 participants, while the Winter Universiade comprises seven compulsory sports and a maximum of two optional sports chosen by the host country.
Badminton has been an optional sport on the programme of most of the recent editions of the Universiade, and it will also be on the programme of the two following editions, to be organised in Shenzhen (RPC), in 2011 and in Kazan (RUS) in 2013. It will organise the 11th edition of its World University Championships which will be played in Chinese Taipei on 7-12 September next.
Cabello met with Alison Odell, FISU Assessor since 1999 and commented various aspects of a stronger partnership between both organisations.
“Our next move will be to organise a seminar during the World University Championships in Chinese Taipei, and Alison Odell has agreed to give her input on how to best organise it and give it the right focus, given the particularities of university participants to this kind of competition.”
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:26 PM.
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