KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Nov 2017:
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) will develop para-badminton – in tandem with badminton – in 2019 when the World Championships, for both disciplines, will for the first time be hosted jointly by Basel, Switzerland.
BWF said in a statement the BWF Council gave the nod to Swiss Badminton’s enterprising bid to hold the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2019 at the same time as the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019.
The two BWF major events will be held at St Jakobshalle, a venue with a seating capacity of 9,000.
“This is a momentous occasion for BWF and Swiss Badminton and indeed for the development of our sport and our athletes; bringing able-bodied athletes and athletes with impairments together to showcase their talents under the same roof with their World Championships being held at the same time.”
Since assuming responsibility for para-badminton in June 2011, BWF president Poul-Erik Hoyer said BWF’s avowed mission has been to develop that branch of the sport along the same lines as badminton – with the motto One Sport – One Team.
“The spectacle of two World Championships being jointly staged, will propel this philosophy to a unique level. It will be something special and amazing to see and we must congratulate Swiss Badminton on their innovative and ambitious thinking.
“They have convinced us (the BWF Council) that they can deliver these tournaments, to world class standards together, and we look forward to this historic occasion. It will surely raise the bar for hosting premier sporting events,” Hoyer added.
Having first mooted the idea of joint World Championships in March when they bid successfully for the 2019 TOTAL BWF World Championships, Swiss Badminton pursued their objective with a follow-up bid for the para-badminton showpiece.
– Bernama