The Badminton Association of Serbia hosted the Badminton Europe (BEC) Congress and Awards Gala from March 27 to 30, welcoming over 150 representatives from 45 European countries.

Guests also included members of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the Pan American Badminton Confederation, the Asian Badminton Confederation, the European Olympic Committees, the European University Sports Association (EUSA), the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia, the company "EXPO 2027 Belgrade," the Special Olympics, and numerous sports institutions.

Adam Roczek, EUSA President, and Matjaz Pecovnik, EUSA Secretary General, attended the event, highlighting the excellent cooperation between the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and European Badminton (BEC). Their attendance emphasized the strong partnership and continued collaboration between the two organizations.

The most significant and largest annual gathering of Badminton Europe took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade. It was structured into several segments: the Members’ Forum, the Annual General Assembly, and the Gala Awards Ceremony.

The Congress featured both the Forum and the Annual General Assembly, serving as key platforms where member nations gathered, exchanged ideas, and discussed important topics influencing the future of badminton in Europe. It created a space for open dialogue, enabling participants to address concerns and explore solutions to support the sport's development. In addition to discussions, the Congress promoted collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Representatives had the chance to share experiences, tackle common challenges, and learn from one another, contributing to the overall strengthening of badminton across the region.

The event was hosted by Radomir Jovovic, President of the Badminton Association of Serbia and former EUSA Technical Delegate for Badminton, whose leadership and experience contributed to the event’s outstanding organization.

During the event, it was also confirmed that the BEC President would attend the European Universities Badminton Championship finals in Madrid this year, further strengthening the connection between university sports and Badminton Europe. 

The Badminton Europe Congress in Belgrade was a landmark event, featuring a record number of delegates and guests from nearly 50 countries across three continents. Representatives from the Badminton World Federation and numerous international and national sports organizations commended the exceptional organization and hospitality of the event.

The highlight of the congress was the Gala Awards Ceremony, where Poul-Erik Hoyer, President of the Badminton World Federation and Olympic Champion, was inducted into the Badminton Europe Hall of Fame.

The rest of the presented awards this year included the Male Player of the Year, Female Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Senior Player of the Year, Para-Badminton Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, European Fan Player of the Year, Shot of the Year, Social Media Award, and the Technical Official Award.

Radomir Jovovic, President of the Badminton Association of Serbia, extended his congratulations to the recipients of the annual awards and the newly elected members of the BEC and BWF management.

Sven Serre, President of the European Badminton Confederation, and a delegation from the European Badminton Confederation, the Badminton World Federation, and the Badminton Association of Serbia were warmly received by Serbia's Minister of Sports, Zoran Gajic, and his team. The meeting highlighted the achievements of the Badminton Association of Serbia and the progress of Badminton as an Olympic sport. Discussions also focused on enhancing international cooperation, particularly regarding the "EXPO 2027 Belgrade" project.

During the final part of the Gala Awards Ceremony, it was announced that Denmark will host the 2026 Badminton Europe Congress.

Badminton will be featured in this year's season of the European Universities Championships, taking place in Madrid from June 22-28. Additionally, it is set to be included in the program for the European Universities Games in 2026, which will be held in Salerno, Italy.

For more information, please see https://badmintoneurope.com/ 

*photos courtesy of Badminton Europe and Badminton Association of Serbia