Athens Could Offer ‘Best-ever’ Olympic Badminton Venue
The International Badminton Federation’s new Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Ryan, has asserted that the Goudi Olympic Complex in Athens has the potential to be badminton’s best Olympic venue to date, once key installation issues are resolved.
IBF personnel visited the Olympic host city last week for the 2004 Badminton Sport Event (5-8 February) – a competition staged to test the venue and logistical systems to be used during the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens next August – with the stadium design drawing praise from Ryan, officials and tournament participants alike.
‘We believe that, when construction is complete, the Goudi Olympic Hall has the potential to be the best ever venue for badminton at an Olympic Games,’ said Ryan following Sunday’s finals matches.
‘There are still some major technical aspects of the venue we need to install and test, such as the air conditioning system and the Games-time lighting which was not available for the Sport Event, so together with ATHOC we are planning another test of the these key components when construction is complete at the end of April to ensure they are fully functional for the Olympic badminton event (14-21 August),’ Ryan continued.
‘When these facilities are in place, badminton can look forward to a superb setting when the Olympic Games returns ‘home’ in just over six months’ time.’
The Badminton Sport Event welcomed over 50 participants from six National Olympic Committees. World number three Lee Hyun Il captured the men’s singles title over compatriot Shon Seung Mo in Sunday’s final, while Jun Jae Youn made it two in a row for Korea in the women’s singles event, where she beat Great Britain’s Tracey Hallam in straight games 11-6, 11-3.
Hwang Yu Mi and Lee Kyung Won gained the women’s doubles title in just 11 minutes when Brit Donna Kellogg, playing with Natalie Munt, retired – although Munt did not leave empty-handed as she and Nathan Robertson earned the mixed doubles crown on Saturday. They beat top seeds Kim Yong Hyun and Lee Hyo Jung 15-10, 15-10.
An all-Danish final in the men’s doubles saw World Champions Lars Paaske, playing with Michael Lamp, overcome by second seeds Thomas Laybourn and Peter Steffensen 15-12, 17-16 in 52 minutes.
For more details contact:
Lindsey Bell
IBF
01242 234904