Andrew Pace
Badminton's television coverage has evolved alongside its growing popularity and professionalization as a sport. The sport's roots can be traced back to ancient Greece, China, and India, but it was in Gloucestershire, England, in the 1870s that the modern game took shape and was named after Badminton House, the ancestral home of the Duke of Beaufort. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, took place in 1899, marking a significant step in standardizing rules and regulations. Over time, badminton gained traction globally, especially in Asia, and its debut as an Olympic sport in 1992 further boosted its international profile. The sale of commercial and television rights for major tournaments, such as the Thomas and Uber Cups, has attracted significant interest and investment, with the 1997 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, being a notable example of the sport's growing television presence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first TV coverage | Unknown, but the sale of commercial and television rights for the Thomas and Uber Cups in Hong Kong was a multimillion-dollar contract |
| First badminton championship | The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, was held in 1899 |
| First badminton club | The Badminton Club of New York, formed in 1878 |
| First national championships in the US | 1937 |
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What You'll Learn
The first televised badminton championship
The sport of badminton has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s. It was derived from the game "poona" or "battledore and shuttlecock", played by British army officers stationed in India during the 1860s. The rules of the game were first drawn up in 1873 in the garrison town of Poona (or Pune), and by 1875, officers had started a badminton club in Folkestone, UK. The sport's name, meanwhile, is said to come from Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the ancestral home of the Duke of Beaufort, where it was played around the same time. The first badminton club in the United States, the Badminton Club of New York, was formed in 1878.
The Bath Badminton Club, established in Bath, England, in 1877, introduced new rules to the game, and in 1893, the Badminton Association of England (BAE) published these rules, officially launching the sport. That same year, the BAE started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, which included gentlemen's doubles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles events. Singles competitions were added in 1900. This tournament is considered the world's first badminton tournament.
In the following decades, badminton continued to grow in popularity, particularly in the 1930s, with the formation of the American Badminton Association in 1936 and the increasing availability of badminton instruction in educational institutions and clubs. The International Badminton Federation (IBF), now known as the Badminton World Federation (BWF), was formed in 1934, with nine members: Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, England, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The IBF held its first big tournament, the Thomas Cup (men's world team championships), in 1948.
While it is not clear when the first badminton championship was televised, it is worth noting that badminton's debut as an Olympic sport in 1992 and its inclusion in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games boosted interest internationally and led to increased sponsorship and television coverage. The sale of commercial and television rights for tournaments such as the Thomas and Uber Cups has also become a multimillion-dollar endeavour.
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The growth of badminton in the USA
Badminton was first played in Gloucestershire, England, on the country estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport is named after this Badminton estate, now known as Badminton House. The first badminton club in the United States was formed in New York in 1878, just five years after the sport's introduction in Gloucestershire.
The United States joined the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in 1938, four years after its formation. The IBF was formed in Gloucestershire—the birthplace of badminton—with nine members: Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, England, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The United States saw its first-ever badminton world championship title in 1949, when David Freeman won the Men's Singles at the All-England Championships. Between 1949 and 1967, the United States won 23 badminton championships. This success led to Sports Illustrated featuring Joe Alston on the cover of their March 1955 issue, recognising the country's achievements in badminton during that period.
Despite this early success, badminton is not a popular sport in the United States today. One reason for this is that badminton is often seen as a backyard sport in the U.S., and as a result, the sport has not grown significantly. Another factor is the lack of Olympic success for American athletes in badminton. The United States men's and women's national teams have had limited success at the Summer Olympics. The debut of badminton as an Olympic sport in 1996 boosted interest in the sport internationally, but the U.S. has not kept pace with this growth.
Wages also play a significant role in the lack of popularity of badminton in the U.S. The sport fails to attract substantial media attention in the country, which contributes to low wages for participants. Winning a championship in badminton may earn an athlete up to $15,000, a relatively small amount compared to the average salary of a football player, which is $2.7 million.
However, there are some signs of a potential increase in the popularity of badminton in the U.S. As of 2008, over 1,362,000 people in the United States played badminton frequently throughout the year. ESPN has reported that high school badminton is rising in popularity across the country. Additionally, in 1996, the IBF introduced a new concept tournament in California, the Hong Ta Shan Cup, a men's invitation tournament with substantial prize money. The Hong Ta Shan Group has since sponsored the U.S. Open, increasing the prize money to $200,000 and making it the most valuable World Grand Prix event in the series.
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The popularity of badminton in Asia
Badminton is the second most played sport in the world, with an estimated 220 million people playing it regularly. The majority of these players are based in Asia, with China and South Korea being the countries with the highest number of players. The sport is also popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, India, and other Asian countries.
The success of Asian countries in badminton at the international level has also contributed to its popularity. Asian countries, particularly China, have dominated the sport globally, which has brought fame and national pride to their respective countries. The success of legendary players such as Rudy Hartono, Susi Susanti, and P.V. Sindhu has further inspired a generation of players in Asia.
The historical origins of badminton in British India have also played a role in its popularity in the region. The sport was brought to England by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s, and the rules were standardised by the Badminton Association of England in 1893. This historical connection has likely contributed to the strong following of the sport in Asia.
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The early rules of badminton
The game of badminton has evolved from the ancient game of battledore and shuttlecock, which was played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The modern game of badminton, however, is said to have developed in the mid-19th century among British officers stationed in India. The sport was named after Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the ancestral home of the Duke of Beaufort, where it was played.
The Bath Badminton Club, established in Bath, England, in 1877, introduced new rules to the game. In 1893, the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) further standardised the rules and regulations of the sport. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. These developments paved the way for badminton's global expansion.
The rules of badminton dictate the design and size of racquets and shuttlecocks. Racquets are lightweight, ranging from 70 to 95 grams in weight, and are made from various materials such as carbon fibre composite, solid steel, or aluminium. The shuttlecock, also known as the "birdie" or "bird", is a unique feature of badminton. It is a feathered or plastic projectile that flies differently from balls used in other sports. The feathers create higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate rapidly. The shuttlecock is cone-shaped, with a cork or rubber base, and measures between 62-70mm in length, weighing around 4.74 to 5.5 grams.
In terms of gameplay, badminton can be played as singles or doubles. In singles, two players compete against each other, while in doubles, two pairs of players form teams, resulting in four players on the court. Points are scored by hitting the shuttlecock within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Each side may strike the shuttlecock only once before it passes over the net. A point is conceded if a shot goes out of bounds or if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through it. The server must remain stationary until the serve is made, and the birdie must be hit below waist height, served diagonally into the opponent's service box.
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Badminton's Olympic debut
A breakthrough came in 1981 when the IBF and WBF signed a 'Deed of Unification', and in 1983, an exhibition of badminton at the IBF World Championships impressed IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was convinced that badminton belonged in the Olympics. Finally, at 5:45 pm on 5 June 1985, at the 90th IOC Session, badminton was unanimously included in the Olympic programme for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 178 players from 37 countries competed in badminton. The debut of Olympic badminton was a success, with TV viewership for an early-round Women's Doubles match between England and Indonesia reaching 150 million. Over the following days, matches in all four categories—Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, and Women's Doubles—were played at the highest level, thrilling audiences and justifying the hard work that had gone into bringing badminton to the Olympics.
The inclusion of badminton in the Olympic Games also boosted international interest in the sport. The STAR TV agreement dramatically increased badminton's coverage, attracting sponsors and television companies that wanted access to Asian economies. The introduction of mixed doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games further contributed to the sport's growth, with badminton now consisting of five medal events in the Olympics: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
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