BWF defend decision to hold world meet annually

Discussion in 'World Championships 2007' started by ixory, Aug 13, 2007.

  1. ixory

    ixory Regular Member

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    Tuesday August 14, 2007


    BWF defend decision to hold world meet annually
    thestar online


    THE Badminton World Federation (BWF) executive deputy president, Datuk Punch Gunalan, has defended their decision to make the World Championships an annual affair, saying that they need to look at the bigger picture like the commercial aspects of it.
    Punch was reacting to Olympics and Asian Games champion Taufik Hidayat, who said on Sunday that the annual championships had become boring.
    The championships, which offer no prize money, were introduced in 1977 and the first two editions were held three years apart before becoming a biennial affair.
    It became an annual event from last year but no championship will be held in the Olympic year.
    “We appreciate Taufik’s views on the sequence of the World Championships,” said Punch.
    “It’s a valid point. In fact, we have had such suggestions made to us in the past on whether we should host the championships yearly or biennially.
    “But, at the same time, we need to look at the bigger picture as far as the championships are concerned – like from the marketing and sponsorship aspects and other angles. “The BWF council are meeting on Saturday and I believe we can discuss the issue.”
     
  2. hsengsping

    hsengsping Regular Member

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    There is already the annual SS finale - admitted a different format and more targetted towards the pros in the game.

    I am not sure that whether an annual WC bar Olympic year is the correct format or not. Other sports do have annual WC e.g. squash, others 2 yrly e.g. athletics and sports like football have a 4 year cycle WC whose cycle is significantly dictated by the structure of the dominant club game and continental games.

    Other major sports e.g. tennis and golf have their Slams with 4 major events every year but no WC so to speak.

    Personally I think the Grand Slam concept with 4 or so Slam tournaments spread over a year concept makes more commercial sense and sustain fan interest but of course who starts assigning Slams? Building up AE, DO, IO, MO, CO and KO (or some of these) to Slam status will take sustained effort on the part of local organisers, the baddie fraternity and the press.

    The WC/OG as pinnacle events probably won't work as well if tennis or golf (individual sports) are guides. Football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, American football - the big money sports are all club dominated team sports.
     
  3. pjswift

    pjswift Regular Member

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    What's wrong with yearly WC?

    If going annual makes the WC boring, why does he bother to even show up? He sounded so brainless.If Taufik has not won the WC, would he complain about yearly opportunities? He's just trying to minimise opportunities for others, selfish stud!
    Totally agree with BWF.The WC should be regarded as the equivalent of a Grand Slam.So badminton only has one a year, except the Olympic year.It's important to have annual opportunities so we can have a better measure of top players. If a player were to win 3 WCs in a row, it tells you the player is special. If it's a different champion every year, it probably indicates the competitiveness in the sport.
    I'm surprised BWF even bother to take note of Taufik's remarks. The old sultan should be ignored.Totally.
     
  4. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    It is good for Taufik Hidayat to speak out, freely and fearlessly

    Hi pjswift,

    What I see is that the BWF wanted to stage the WC for us as spectators/audience.
    And I love it. :)

    But to the players involved, some might find it too hard to keep their concentration/determination/interest in it, if it is to be played in such a regular, annual occurrence.

    It is good for Taufik Hidayat to speak out, freely and fearlessly. :):):)

    Cheers... chris@ccc
     
  5. hsengsping

    hsengsping Regular Member

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    The golf and tennis pros do not seem to have a similar problem with their 4 Slams per year. Is badminton as a competitive sport so different from tennis and golf?
     
  6. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    They have chosen to earn an income from it

    Hi hsengsping,

    You might not know how difficult it is for our Golf and Tennis Pros to live from hotel to hotel, and to be travelling from country to country, away from their homes and their beloved families.

    But then, it is their choice to choose... that is, if they have chosen to earn an income from it. :)

    Some just love it, but some hated it so much that they quit earlier.

    Cheers... chris@ccc
     
    #6 chris-ccc, Aug 14, 2007
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2007

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