May 2: Badminton Wales was present and engaged actively at the 12th edition of the BWF Members Forum and Annual General Meeting, hosted in Chengdu, China on 26th-27th April, 2024.
Led by President Poul-Eric Hoyer, the forum commemorated BWF’s 90th anniversary and brought together delegates from around the world. As one of nine founding members of the BWF, Badminton Wales was acknowledged and stood out among the member associations which has grown significantly from nine to 201 as part of the BWF Badminton Community.
Leading by example at the BWF Members Forum
The Members Forum gave the opportunity to discuss and explore the crucial themes outlined in the BWF Strategic Plan 2023-28. The themes focused on several domains of operation, including events, tournaments, development, Sport for All, marketing and communications, and para badminton.
Badminton Wales actively contributed to the discussions and was invited to present our Safeguarding journey. The session showcased the exemplary practices that we have undertaken in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, reinforcing Wales’ commitment in upholding the highest standards of governance and ethics that is being done across the community.
Badminton Wales CEO Kelly Aston MBE presenting our Safeguarding procedures and practices to the BWF Members forum.
Kelly Aston MBE with fellow presenter Sarina Sundara Rajah.
Kelly Aston, the CEO of Badminton Wales, said, “We are Safer Badminton and our journey towards promoting safeguarding reflects our dedication towards the best practices. Being invited to share our safeguarding journey at the BWF Members Forum speaks volumes about the global recognition of our efforts and the value of collaboration in promoting safer sport.”
Key takeaways from the BWF AGM
At the Annual General Meeting, the members including Badminton Wales participated in democratic decision making processes while maintaining transparency and accountability with the BWF.
The 4 Nations particularly made significant contribution to the proceedings. Badminton England delivered a presentation regarding amendments to a BWF proposal, paving the path for some exciting commercial opportunities for the future of badminton across all levels of the sport. Badminton Ireland received the award for “Best Development Project” crediting Chloe Magee’s Women and Girls initiative.
The conclusion of the 85th Annual General Meeting marked the end of another productive year for the sport of badminton.