Any coments on: From BAOFE site: http://www.baofe.co.uk/?session=1798002882&selected=2548& BA of E lose chief executive to Sport England. Sport England, the strategic lead for sport in England, today announced the appointment of BA of E chief executive and former Commonwealth and European badminton champion Stephen Baddeley as its new Director of Sport. Stephen will lead Sport England's drive to improve the country's sporting infrastructure and to bring about the effective delivery of sport at all levels. Currently Chief Executive of the Badminton Association of England (BAofE), Stephen has extensive experience of performance sport, Governing Bodies and sports development. He has an outstanding track record in senior management, as an elite sportsman and in coaching. During his time as Chief Executive, Stephen has overseen a major period of growth at the BAofE, which has increased its turnover four-fold, as well as leading the £5m redevelopment of the National Badminton Centre. Both as CEO and previously as Director of Performance, he has played a pivotal role in badminton's recent successes on the world stage, including its first-ever Olympic medal in Sydney and subsequent success in Athens last week. As Sport England's Director of Sport, Stephen will look to build on Team England's sporting achievements - including their success at the Manchester Commonwealth Games - as we look ahead to the Melbourne Games in 2006. He will work closely with the Sport England funded English Institute of Sport (EIS) and establish strong working relationships with other partners to implement programmes aimed at delivering both increased participation and world class sporting success. Stephen will lead the implementation of four-year business plans in priority sports and the development of strategies for the potential modernisation of key national governing body (NGB) structures. He will also provide the strategic lead for sports development policies linking schools, clubs and communities, as well as the infrastructure for coaching and volunteer development, ensuring the effective progression of sporting talent to the highest levels. Roger Draper, Chief Executive of Sport England said: 'We are delighted Stephen has agreed to join Sport England as Director of Sport. He brings with him an acknowledged reputation for strategic leadership, personal achievement and administrative success having delivered major change and success within badminton. As well as sound business acumen, he has extensive experience of the current policy environment, the media and funding systems for sport and has extensive contacts within partner organisations - all of which will be vital to this key new strategic role.' Commenting on his appointment, Stephen Baddeley said: 'I am a passionate believer in sport's potential to contribute to culture, society and improving the health of our nation and I look forward to playing a key role in Sport England's drive to deliver both increased participation and success on the international stage. A solid and effective sporting infrastructure to develop talented athletes is vital to achieving these dual objectives.
Congratulations to Steve Baddeley for his promotion. It is noteworthy that one of Britain's greatest badminton players is now placed in such a high position to lead Sport England.
Sorry, but what has he not done correct at the BA of E? England got a silver in XD at Athens, which I considered to be a great achievement! Of course, thanks to JR and partner who eliminated the great Korean pair of Kim & Ra so early in the rounds!
How long has Stephen been at the BA of E? And England have won one silver in hte Olympics and one gold at the commonwealth, anything else of note? What you fail to see is the decline of the game in England and indeed the UK as a whole.
It is true the number of clubs and high quality players is reducing. The support no longer exsits in many counties Internationally GB and the BAof E have done well the World Championships Hostings etc The best Squad at the commonwealth games and the best ever olympic results cant be to bad Juniors are now the strongest in Europe in my view but thers no way to compare with asia so the future is uncertain
I hope Steve has had a hand in the development of the junior players, either directly or indirectly (eg. was he responsible for the development blueprint for Badminton England, from the schools to the elite level?) If England's juniors are so strong as to be able to beat all other juniors in Europe, even Denmark, then the future must be bright if such juniors can be persuaded to continue to train and represent England in the years to come. Admittedly, it takes a long time. unyielding commitment and a lot of patience, besides a host of other attributes, to produce world class players. England might well be the champion of Europe sooner than expected!
Congrats to Stephen on getting this role hopefully having a badminton player in such a high position at Sport England will enable the BAofE to continue going forward Neil
With regard to the juniors, an objective opnion might state that this is a very good platform indeed.
Cheung, Very good point. Stephen and Lars have set up a very good platform for he juniors now, lets hope someone comes along and carries it on. For example, our under 15 team won the team europeans. And i have witnessed alot of the younger people play and mix it with the best in Europe, the Adcock brothers to name a few.
the World Junior Championship will be a place to compare the Juniors from all countries. it will be next month in Vancouver, CD.
The lottery funding which has been available to sports in recent years has transformed the junior and senior squads, the ability of players go full time, the provision of coaching etc, facilities. We are only talking about a few talented individuals having success at each level, if you look at the second tier of juniors, the county teams, tournament entries etc, media coverage, we are in decline , as Dill suggests.
Spot on DLP. In Scotland the lottery funding is more noticably affecting the junior game and the squads are developing well becasue of it. The problem is occuring where the funding from certain squads is being cut or pulled totally to enhance the future senoir players with a view to the long term and is seen as detrimental to the present time.