1) International badminton gets a makeover
Thursday 14 December 2006

International Badminton Federation (IBF) has changed its name to
Badminton World Federation (BWF).

The reason behind changing its name is because they are giving a
complete makeover to the sport (Badminton). And all this changes were
announced by their Deputy President, BWF Datuk Punch Gunalan yesterday.

The sport is following the footsteps of other sports and trying to
convert bird feather-made shuttles into synthetic ones. "Badminton is
the only sport which requires a live creature for its equipment and
the demand is more than the supply. Therefore we are in the process of
developing a synthetic shuttle which will behave like the normal
bird," Gunalan said.

The other change is making 21 to 15 points to make the games shorter
and more interesting for the TV viewers as well as for the live
audience. "Due to this change we have also earned a lot of money which
we can put back into the game," he added.

Earlier the events (tournaments) were graded into seven stars and now
it will have levels. For instance level one will have all BWF events
which include Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudhirman Cup, World Championships
and Olympics. Level two becomes a super series and upgraded Grand
Prix. While level 3 and 4 becomes Grand Prix Gold and Continental
Satellite events.

Another Introduction is World rankings for club players which will
enable all of them to be right up there. Adding to its list is a world
league where 16 countries with four in a group or eight in a group
will compete play in a home and away system. Also in the pipelines is
same approach as ATP system and starting of Outdoor badminton which
will excite youngsters to participate in it.

[Thanks to Paras Shah for the info]




2) Badminton Super Series To Offer A Bigger Purse
December 15, 2006 00:37 AM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The All England Championship will become part
of the Badminton Super Series network which was launched Thursday, offering more
lucrative prize money in efforts to uplift badminton by the Badminton World
Federation (BWF).

Deputy President of BWF (formerly IBF), Datuk Punch Gunalan said the Super
Series Championship will offer prize money of at least USD200,000 (RM708,000)
per tournament.

"We will be offering more prize money, more TV coverage and a better life for
badminton players," he told a media conference here Thursday.

He said that the move to put all badminton open championships under one series
by the BWF was aimed at attracting more fans to the sport.

This would result in broadcasting rights that are properly packaged and cheaper
for foreign TV stations to air the championships.

The Super Series will last from Jan until Dec 2007 and will kick off in the
United Kingdom with the All England Championship. From there it will moving on
to China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
Singapore and Switzerland.

China will be organising two championships in the series, while eight top teams
in the men, women and doubles categories will be competing at the season's end
championship in Dec, 2007 at a location yet to be determined.

[Thanks to Paras Shah for the info]




3. 12/14/2006 2006 Athlete Advisory Report
http://www.usabadminton.org/page.asp?Page=News&iID=385


-- CLBP Moderators