Badminton Around the World
The official governing body for badminton is the Badminton World Federation (BWF). It was founded in 1934 with nine member countries (Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Ireland, France, England, Denmark and Canada) and was called the International Badminton Federation (IBF). In September 24, 2006, the body voted to adopt the new name during a general meeting in Madrid.
The BWF consists of five regional confederations spread throughout the world. They are:
Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) – The BAC governs all official badminton games held throughout Asia. Established in 1959, the confederation governs the following member states: Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam.
Badminton Europe (BE) – BE governs all official badminton games held throughout Europe. The confederation governs the following member states: Armenia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Russia, Hungary and Iceland.
Badminton Pan Am (BPA) – BPA governs all official badminton games held throughout the Americas. The confederation governs the following member states: Argentina, Jamaica, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Guatemala.
Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) – BCA governs all official badminton games held throughout Asia. The confederation governs the following member states: Congo, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Burundi, South Africa, Uganda, etc.
BO or Badminton Oceania – The BO governs all official badminton games held throughout Asia. The confederation governs the following member states: Australia, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Nauru, Fiji, New Zealand, etc.
Backstage Business
No professional sport would function without an established association to look after the players, the proper standardization and implementation of both new and old rules, to take care of everything. A sport needs an organization to look out for it, and an organization needs a sport to look after. It’s a two-way relationship that’s been around for a very long time.