ANNALS OF BADMINTON EUROPE

SOME CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES OF OUTSTANDING EVENTS

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SEPTEMBER 24 - The European Badminton Union was founded at Frankfurt/Main, F.R. Germany, at a meeting attended by the official representatives of eleven National organizations. The meeting was convened by the Deutscher Badminton Verband on the suggestion of the I.B.F. (now BWF), after the D.B.V. proposed to IBF, that official European Championships should be staged in the future.

The eleven countries all became founder members of the new organization. They were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Finland, FR Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition to the foregoing, both Scotland and Wales indicated their approval of the formation of the Union.

A complete set of rules was put forward and, after several alterations had been agreed upon, they were duly adopted. It was agreed to affiliate the Union as an international member of the International Badminton Federation and to seek sanction for the staging of the first European Championships in the F.R. Germany over the third week-end of April, 1968.

Mr. H.P.Kunz of Switzerland was elected as the first President of the European Badminton Union, and Stellan Mohlin from Sweden and H. Brohl from Germany were added to the small committee of three, to be responsible for the overall general management of affairs of the Union, with the three officers to remain in charge for a period of four years from 1967.

Mr.  Kunz, the founder of the „Cup of the Six Nations“ in 1961, later known as „Helvetia Cup“ was one of the principal prime movers of the project, which was discussed and prepared at the meeting of the Helvetia Cup member associations in 1966 at Brussels and in 1967 at Lausanne.

OCTOBER 7 - European Badminton Union elected to membership as an international organization by the Council of the International Badminton Federation.

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APRIL 20 - The first annual meeting was held in conjunction with the first European Badminton Championship at Bochum in the F.R. Germany. It was attended by the representatives of 12 national organizations, under the chairmanship of Mr. H.P. Kunz.

Since the inaugural meeting the national organizations of France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Yugoslavia (Slovenia) were elected, which brought the membership up to 16 nations.

It was decided to enlarge the committee from three persons to five, i.e. a President, two Vice Presidents and two members, including one from the country where the next European Championships would be held.

The 1970 tournament was allotted to Wales. The European Junior Championships were instituted, to be held on the years, when the senior championships were not held, and the first 1969 tournament for juniors was allotted to the Netherlands.
The new members of the committee elected, following the change in the rules, were Herman Valken of the Netherlands and L.G. Pine of Wales.

APRIL 27-28 - The 7th Helvetia Cup Tournament, which remained independent of the E.B.U., was held at Oslo.

DECEMBER - Mr. H.P. Kunz tendered his resignation owing to health reasons. Mr.H. Brohl was given the task to deal with the current affairs until a new President was elected.

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APRIL 19 - The second annual meeting was held at Voorburg, Netherlands, during the course of the first European Junior Championship, and was attended by the representatives of ten of the sixteen national organizations in membership.
In succession to Mr. H.P.Kunz, Mr. Stellan Mohlin of Sweden was elected as President. Mr.H. Valken was elected as Vice-President.

A vacancy remained to be filled by a representative of the country where the next Junior Championships would be held in 1971.

APRIL 26-27 - The 8th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held in Prague.

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APRIL 18 -The third annual delegates meeting was held at Port Talbot, Wales, during the course of the second European Championships. Twelve nations were represented, with the President Mr.Mohlin in the chair.

Following the decision taken at Bochum in April 1968, that in the future European Team Championship and European and the Individual Championships should be played at the same venue, it was agreed, that the Team Championship would be played during the two days preceding the Individual Championship. The main subject of discussion was the third annual proposal of the B.A. of England that the hitherto imposed restriction of two entries per event from each country should be abolished in favour of allowing a maximum national entry of four players in each singles event, two pairs of each of the Men’s and Ladies’ doubles and four pairs in the mixed doubles, the number of players in each team to be restricted, however, to five men and five ladies. A year ago a similar motion had been defeated by 8 votes to 2, but this time the motion was carried by 10 votes to 1 with no abstention.

The next Championships in 1972 were allocated to Sweden and the Junior Championships in 1971 to Czechoslovakia. Newly elected to the committee were  J. Jezbera of Czechoslovakia and G. Wennstrom of Sweden. The officers, S. Mohlin (President), H. Brohl and H. Valken (Vice-Presidents), were not due to retire.

APRIL 25 -26 - The 9th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Neuss, F.R. Germany.

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APRIL 17 - The fourth Annual Delegates' Meeting was held at Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, in conjuction with the 2nd European Junior Championships. Thirteen nations were represented, with the President Mr.S.Mohlin in the chair.
The admission of the Deutscher Federball-Verband der DDR as a new member association was confirmed, which brought the membership up to 17 nations.
The next European Junior Championships 1973 were allocated to Scotland.

An announcement was received from Mr. H.Brohl on his resignation from Vice-Presidency. Mr. Ole Mertz, Denmark, was proposed as his successor, but as the nomination had to be submitted not less than 2 months in advance to comply with the rules in case of Vice-Presidency, the meeting proposed and elected Mr.Mertz in a capacity of a committee member.

Mr. Craig Reedie of the Scottish Badminton Union was elected member of the committee for the period of 1971-73. Mr. Bengt E.Nilsson, Sweden, was appointed honorary auditor of the EBU. The proposal of the committee to increase the annual subscription from Sfr.20 to Sfr.40 due to increased costs for the printing of the E.B.U. rules and regulations was adopted. A sub committee was formed for development of junior team tournament as a step for future European Junior Team Championships and J.R. Benes of Czechoslovakia, J. Holtnaes of Norway and H. Schröder of the F.R.Germany were elected members of the sub committee.

APRIL 24-25 - The 10th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Heerlen, Netherlands. At the annual meeting of the delegates of member associations, it was decided by a close vote and after a long discussion to seek integration in the E.B.U. Mr. A.E. ter Metz was elected a President of the Helvetia Cup Committee to replace Mr. R. Baldin of Switzerland, who did not wish to stand for re-election.

JUNE 29 - At an extraordinary delegates meeting held in London at the occasion of an extraordinary delegates meeting of the I.B.F., eleven nations were represented.

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APRIL 14 - The fifth Annual Delegates' Meeting held at Ronneby, near Karlskrona, Sweden, during the course of the 3rd European Championships, which included the Team Championships for the first time. Only two of the seventeen member nations were unrepresented. The Badminton Association of Malta was elected to membership. The 1974 Championships were allocated to Austria and Mr. H.Kullnigg of the Österreichischer Badminton Verband was, in conformity with the rules, elected a member of the committee. Mr. Mohlin was re elected President for the next two years. The committee was given authority to co-opt not more than four additional members. In conformity therewith, the committee later co-opted Mr. A.E. ter Metz of the Netherlands. The meeting approved certain changes put forward by the committee to clarify existing regulations concerning the staging of the championships and the team championships, but regulations proposed by the sub-committee for junior teams tournament were deferred to the next meeting.
On behalf of the Scottish Badminton Union, Mr.Reedie informed the meeting about the intended match Europe versus Asia, to be held before All England in 1973. The profit obtained should assist to cover the costs of the European Junior Championships and to contribute to the funds of the E.B.U.
Uniformity of umpires´ opinion in the interpretation of the Laws of Badminton was stressed in the discussion, in connection of an injury suffered on the court, when, in absence of the authorized physician a coach volunteered to provide first aid; Mr.Hinchcliff of England was asked to prepare a proposal for nomination of three-member umpires´ sub-committee.

APRIL 15 - At the Annual Meeting of the Helvetia Cup committee, which was held at the occasion, with Mr. A.E. ter Metz in the chair, the representatives of eight of the member countries decided, after a long discussion, for the integration into the E.B.U., under the provisos, that the character and name of the tournament be maintained and that it be not turned into a lower group of the European Team Championships.

JULY - Death of Mr. Hans Peter Kunz, the first President of the E.B.U. and the founder of the Helvetia Cup Tournament.

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March 17 - Europe defeated Asia by 8 matches to 2 in an intercontinental encounter staged by the Scottish Badminton Union in Edinburgh.

APRIL 20 - The sixth Annual Delegates' Meeting was held in Edinburgh, during the course of the 3rd European Junior Championships. Delegates of eleven national organizations were present, with Mr. Mohlin in the chair. The Hungarian Badminton Association was elected to membership, which brought the total membership up to 19 nations. The next European Junior Championships, to be held in 1975, were allocated to Denmark. A number of regulations applicable to the two championship tournaments were tidied up, and two rules were altered. One raised the annual subscription from 40 Sfr. to 100 Sfr. and the other provided for the addition to the committee of a honorary secretary and a honorary treasurer, with the object of giving the necessary assistance to the President, who had hitherto carried out both functions. It was agreed, that elections for these two offices should be for a period of two years, in contrast to those for presidency and vice presidency, which have always been for three years. Mr.H.Valken, who was the Vice-President due to retire, was re-elected for a further term, and Mr. A.E. ter Metz was elected as the new honorary secretary. The meeting accepted the offer of the President to continue as honorary treasurer for the time being.

Newly elected to the committee was Mr. Poul Erik Nielsen of Denmark. A set of regulations to govern the staging of a junior teams tournament for „Wooden Horse Trophy“ donated by the Swedish association, was received from the sub-committee and approved. The suggestion to introduce a European Junior Team Championship received some support, and it was decided that the committee would consider the question further, and report back at the next annual meeting. 15% of the net profit (£ 800) from the intercontinental match Europe vs Asia, staged by the Scottish Badminton Union, was handed by Mr. Reedie to Mr. Mohlin as the E.B.U. treasurer. The proposal to integrate the Helvetia Cup Tournament into the E.B.U. was approved.

APRIL 27 - Annual meeting of the Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Graz, Austria. It was agreed that following the integration of the Helvetia Cup Tournament into E.B.U. a set of new regulations should be drafted and the Swiss B.A. volunteered to prepare the draft.

APRIL 28-29 - The 11th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Graz, Austria. For the first time, the teams participating in the top group of the European Team Championships were not eligible to take part.

MAY 20 - The first Information Bulletin issued by the Honorary Secretary was circulated, announcing the appointment of two sub-committees, i.e. for junior affairs and for umpiring and their composition.

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APRIL 19 - The seventh Annual Delegates' Meeting took place in Vienna, with an attendance of delegates from 17 of the 19 affiliate national organizations. Mr. S. Mohlin, the President, was in the chair. The European Championships of 1976 were allotted to Ireland and the next contest for the Helvetia Cup was given to Belgium to be held in April, 1975. Mr.Craig Reedie of Scotland was elected a Vice-President to replace Mr.O.Mertz of Denmark, who did not desire re-election, and Mr. F.W. Peard of Ireland was added to the committee. It was decided that it would be more efficient to have a honorary secretary co-opted for the task of dealing with the development of junior competitions as an officer of the committee, instead of a sub-committee, and in this connection, Mr. J.R. Benes of Czechoslovakia was co-opted to the committee. Meeting agreed without dissent that the immediate past president should hold a seat automatically on the committees of the future. The regulations for the future of the Helvetia Cup were adopted. A proposal from Czechoslovakia to omit a rule forbidding the hoisting of national flags received some support, and it was eventually decided to modify it so that the promoting country could make the decision. Other Czechoslovak proposals that bronze medals should be presented as third prizes in individual events and that annual European ranking list be drawn up were narrowly defeated by 9 votes to 8 and 6 votes to 5 respectively. A suggestion made a year ago, that the European Junior Championships should include a team event was deferred to be discussed at the next committee meeting on July 1 in London. The delegates were requested to give comments of their national organizations to the Honorary Secretary before June 1.

JULY 1 - Meeting of the committee in London. Eleven member associations replied in favour of the proposition to stage every two years the European Junior Championships combined with the team event. No other replies were received, so that the committee could decide to accept the proposal as a fact.

NOVEMBER 2 - Meeting of the committee at Bloemendaal, Netherlads. Decided, that unless two or more replies are received by December 1, the Junior Team Championship will be staged in connection with the European Junior Championships 1975 in Copenhagen, subject to the final decision of the Danish Badminton Association. Draft of the regulations for the Junior Team Championships was approved by the committee.

DECEMBER 2 - No negative replies were received to the above and the Danish Badminton Association decided to stage the Junior Team Championship in April 1975.

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MARCH 22 - Meeting of the committee in London.

APRIL 18 - The eight Annual Delegates' Meeting was held in Glostrup (Copenhagen), during the course of the 4th European Junior Championships, in which the Team Championships were for the first time included. Delegates of seventeen national organizations were present. Mr. S.Mohlin, the President, was in the chair. The Badminton Federation of the U.S.S.R. was elected to membership, which brought the total membership up to 20 nations. Mr.S.Mohlin was re-elected President for period 1975-78 and honorary treasurer for period 1975-77. Mr.A.E.ter Metz was re-elected honorary secretary for the period 1975-77. The European Junior Championships of 1977 were allotted to Malta and Mr.J. Zammit-Lewis of the Maltese Association was elected a member of the committee for the period 1975-77. The meeting approved certain changes put forward by the Czechoslovak B.A. to clarify existing regulations concerning the Helvetia Cup Tournament. Another Czechoslovak proposal to stage „Junior Cup“ Tournament for junior teams, played on similar regulations as Helvetia Cup for senior teams, was defeated by 1O votes to 3. Further motion by the B.A.of Czechoslovakia that the committee should be given the right to ask for votes by mail in exceptional cases of emergency, which actually had happened in connection with the staging of the Junior Team Championship, was referred to the committee. The President informed the meeting that a protest had been addressed to the B.A.of Czechoslovakia for sudden withdrawal from the European Junior Championships and the Helvetia Cup. The withdrawal which caused severe problems to the organizers, was caused by a suspension from all international play throughout the season, inflicted by the sports authorities for the participation in an international championship in which also players of South Africa had participated.

APRIL 26-27 - The 12th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Wilrijk near Antwerp, Belgium.

AUGUST 30 - Meeting of the committee in London.

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MARCH 27 - Meeting of the committee in London.

APRIL 9 - The nineth annual delegates meeting was held in Dublin during the course of the fifth European Championships. Mr.S.Mohlin was in the chair and delegates from 18 of the 20 affiliated national organizations were present. Mr.H.Valken was re-elected Vice-President. The 1978 Championships were allotted to England and Mr. J.H.B. Bisseker of England was elected to the committee. The Helvetia Cup Tournament was allotted to the U.S.S.R. for holding at Leningrad over the last week-end in January 1977. A proposal was outlined for an annual competition on team lines between the champion teams of the different nations of Europe, which met with approval and the committee was asked to bring up a draft of suggested regulations for the consideration of the 1977 meeting. Publishing of an official E.B.U.Yearbook and lists of literature on badminton coaching, proposed by Czechoslovakia met with approval. On the recommendations of umpiring sub committee, it was agreed, that all national organizations entering at least six players in the European Championships should also be requested to send at least one qualified umpire. Suggestion to adopt certain regulations as to clothing to be worn by competitors in future championships was referred to the committee for future consideration. On the recommendation of the committee, it was approved, that voting by mail should be left to the discretion of the committee to avail itself of this possibility in case of very extreme circumstances. Mr. Zammit-Lewis informed the meeting that the B.A. of Malta was making efforts to obtain the inclusion of badminton in the Mediterranean Games. Before the meeting was concluded, Mr.Wyatt, President of the I.B.F., who had been invited as a guest, addressed the meeting and congratulated the Union on the progress made.

JUNE 10 - Mr.S.Mohlin, having been elected President of the I.B.F., announced his decision to hand over all active work in the presidential function in the E.B.U. to Mr. H. Valken, Senior Vice-President, and to resign formally at the next Annual Delegates' Meeting, but to retain until then the function of the honorary treasurer and continue in the work of the E.B.U. committee.

SEPTEMBER 25 - Meeting of the committee at Windsor, England. Sub-committee were appointed for the Helvetia Cup Tournament at Leningrad and the European Junior Championships. Mr. J.B.H. Bisseker informed the meeting of the venue and preparations for the 1978 European Championships. It was agreed upon, that for the forthcoming European events the clothing should be predominantly white during the play, whereas coloured clothing may be worn for the warming up; this matter arose from the last annual delegates meeting.

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JANUARY 29-30 - The 13th Helvetia Cup Tournament was held at Leningrad, USSR, with 11 teams participating.

APRIL 9 - Meeting of the committee in Malta. Decided, that in future committee members should preferably not represent their own or other associations at the annual delegates meetings. A more efficient European calendar should be attempted, with e.g. national league matches to be played on the same week-ends. Tasks of the referee in European events should be precisely specified.

APRIL 11 - The tenth delegates meeting was held in Malta, during the course of the 5th European Junior Championships, with the team championship included for the second time. Delegates of seventeen national organizations were present. Drs.H.Valken was elected President, following the retirement of Mr.S.Mohlin ,who had been elected President of the I.B.F in 1976. Mr. C.Reedie was re-elected Vice-President, Mr. P.E. Nielsen elected Vice-President, Mr. A.E. ter Metz re-elected honorary secretary and elected honorary treasurer, and Mr. P. Snellens of the Netherlands was elected honorary auditor. The sixth European Junior Championships were allotted to the Deutscher Badminton Verband and, subsequently, Dr. H. Barge of the F.R.Germany was elected member of the committee.

The next Helvetia Cup Tournament was allocated to Austria. Regulations for the Europe Cup competition were in principle adopted, after consideration of several amendments proposed by the national organizations. On the proposal of the Danish Badminton Association, the maximum nominations to both teams and individual championships were increased to seven men and seven ladies. Dr Nada Benesova of Czechoslovakia compiled and issued an EBU Yearbook as a donation to the Union´s 10th anniversary, containing 181 pages of data and details of the E.B.U. and of the affiliated national organizations. Following the permission given at the 1976 annual delegates meeting, the sub-committee for umpiring was expanded to include as far as possible one member from each association. 22 umpires participated at the meeting held at the occasion of the European Junior Championships in Malta; two lists of recommendations and requirements for the European Championships were issued. Mr.Russel Gradwell of Wales was appointed as Honorary Secretary of the sub-committee.

JULY - A memorandum on the duties of the referee at the European Championships was issued and circulated.

SEPTEMBER 30 - Meeting of the committee at Ivanhoe Hotel in London. The final version of the regulations for the Europe Cup competition was approved. A proposal of the Badminton Association of England to introduce a development program aimed to countries only recently affiliated, with small memberships and little experience, as well as countries not yet affiliated, with a financial and other support of the B.A.of E. and other leading associations in Europe was
accepted. Mr.S.Mitchell of England was co opted for the task and Mr.J.R.Benes appointed to co-operate in the program. Mr.C.Reedie was relieved, at his request, of his duties as the chairman of the sub committee for umpiring, in view of his many other obligations. During the year three new members were affiliated, i.e. Federacao Portuguesa de Badminton,  Associazione Italiana Badminton and Polski Zwiazek Badmintona, which brought the total membership to 23.

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APRIL 14 - The eleventh Annual Delegates' Meeting was held at Preston, England, in the course of the 6th European Championship. The 1980 Championships were allotted to the Nederlandse Badminton Bond and Mr. Ton van Beusekom of the Netherlands was, in conformity with the rules, elected a member of the committee. Mr.Tom Bacher of Denmark was co opted a chairman of the sub committee for umpiring. The admission of the Badmintonsamband Islands as a new member association was confirmed, which brought the membership up to 24 nations. The final version of the regulations for the Europe Cup was adopted. Mr C.Reedie informed the meeting about the intention of the Scottish Badminton Union to stage next Europe versus Asia match on March 17, 1979.

OCTOBER 21 - The first Europe Cup competition was a success, with 12 teams participating in four zones, and with the final ties played on October 21 at Goppingen, F.R.Germany. The winner of challenge cup, which was donated by the President of the Union, Drs.Herman Valken, was Gentofte B.K. of Denmark.

NOVEMBER 18-19 - Major items of the committee meeting in Amsterdam included the future shape of the committee and the proposal to change the rules and regulations to be presented to the next annual delegates meeting.

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JANUARY 26-27 - The 14th Helvetia Cup Tournament held at Klagenfurt and Villach, Austria, with a record entry of 17 teams.

MARCH 17 - A very successful Europe versus Asia match was staged by the Scottish Badminton Union in Edinburgh, ending by 5 to 5 score.

APRIL 14 - The twelfth ordinary annual delegates meeting was held at Essen Bredeney, at the occasion of the 6th European Junior Championships, held at near-by Mulheim a.d.Ruhr. The staging of the 7th European Junior Championships was allotted to the Scottish Badminton Union and, accordingly, Mr.Robert M.Fowlis, nominated by the said organization was elected member of the committee. The Norwegian Badminton Forbund was allotted staging of the 15th Helvetia Cup tournament. Rules of the Union underwent considerable alternations and a number of regulations were tidied up on the proposal of the committee.

OCTOBER 19-20 - The second Europe Cup tournament staged at Haarlem, in which 13 teams in four groups participated, was very successful. Gentofte B.K. retained the title.

NOVEMBER 17-18 - New targets, particularly in the development and umpiring marked many items of the agenda in the committee meeting in Amsterdam. Mr. J.R. Benes was appointed Information Officer of the Union. His previous assignment, i.e. the development of junior team competition was successfully terminated by inclusion of team events into European Junior Championships and by the development of several annual and biennial tournaments organized by national associations.

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APRIL 14 - The 13th ordinary annual delegates meeting was held at Groningen, Netherlands, in connection with the 7th European Championships. Apart from re-elections, newly elected were Dr.Heinz Barge of the F.R.Germany as Vice-President, Mr.Owe Wilkstrom of Sweden as chairman of the sub-committee for umpiring, and Mr.Kurt Behrensdorf of the F.R.Germany as a committee member, after the staging of the 1982 European Championships had been allotted to the Deutscher Badminton Verband. The first European Coaching Seminar was held at the occasion of the championships.

OCTOBER 18-19 - The Wimbledon SBC was the winner of the 3rd Europe Cup competition held at Mülheim a.d.Ruhr, F.R. Germany.

NOVEMBER 14-16 - Current affairs and future plans were on the agenda of the sub- committees and committee meetings held in Amsterdam.

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JANUARY 24-25 - The 15th Helvetia Cup Tournament was staged at Sandefjord, Norway, with a rather disappointing entry of only nine nations.

APRIL 14 - The 14th ordinary annual delegates meeting was held at Edinburgh, at the occasion of the 7th European Junior Championships. The Federation Luxembourgoise de Badminton was affiliated as the 25th member of the Union. Amendments of the regulations for the Europe Cup competition were adopted. The first playing scholarship, initiated by the sub  committee for development was awarded to Michal Maly of Czechoslovakia. The Schweizerischer Badminton Verband was allotted the staging of the 16th Helvetia Cup Tournament in 1983. Awarding bronze medals to semi finalists of the European Championships was adopted. The use of Russian language was added to rule 8(b).The unit of the membership fee was raised from Swiss Francs 20 to 40. Re-elected were Dr. H. Barge as Vice-President and Mr.P .Snellens as Honorary Auditor. Mrs. Audrey Kinkead and Mrs.Gisela Hoffmann were elected members of the sub-committee for development. No application was received to stage the European Junior Championships in 1983 and, consequently the position of a committee member to represent the association commissioned to organize the tournament remained vacant. The second European Coaching Seminar was held during the course of the championships.

OCTOBER 16-18 - The Gentofte B.K. of Denmark staged the Europe Cup tournament and regained the trophy,won before in 1978 and 1979. 14 teams were participating.

NOVEMBER 13-14 - General business and future plans of the Union were on the agenda of the committee and sub-committees meetings in Amsterdam.

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APRIL 12 - At the 15th Annual Delegates' Meeting, held at Böblingen, F.R. Germany, at the occasion of the 8th European Championships, Dr. Heinz Barge was elected President and Mr. Stan Mitchell Vice President of the Union, after Drs. Herman Valken retired from the Presidency, having been in the office since 1977. Re-elected were Mr. A.E.ter Metz as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Mr.P. Snellens Honorary Auditor, Mr.O. Wikstrom chairman of the sub committee for umpiring and Mr. Mitchell chairman of the sub-committee for development.  After no application had been received at the last annual delegates meeting to stage the 8th European Junior Championships in 1983, the Finnish Badminton Association helpfully undertook to organize the event and, accordingly, Mr.Tuomo Tenilla from Finland was elected as a committee member. The following venues were further allotted: the 9th European Championships in 1984 to the Badminton Association of England, the 9th European Junior Championships in 1985 to Österreichischer Badminton Verband, and the 17th Helvetia Cup Tournament to Polski Zwiazek Badmintona. Regulations for the European Team Championships were amended on the proposal of the committee. Proposed increase of entry fees was accepted. The Badmintonsamband Foroya and the Comite Espanol de Badminton were affiliated, which brought the total membership up to 27 nations. The EBU Scholarship 1982 was awarded to Christopher Rees of Wales.

AUGUST 22-28 - A remarkable success was the first European Summer School, initiated by the sub-committee for development and held at Pressbaum in Austria, in which 13 association were participating with 37 players and 24 coaches. The meeting of the development sub  committee took place at the occasion.

OCTOBER 15-17 - Gentofte B.K. retained the Europe Cup in the 5th competition, staged by the S.C.Olve at Edegen, Belgium.

NOVEMBER 13 - Forthcoming and future events, including the Europe vs Asia match in 1983 and reports of the sub-committees were the main points of agenda at the committee meeting in Amsterdam.

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JANUARY 21-23 - The 16th Helvetia Cup tournament was held in Basel, with 12 teams participating.

JANUARY 22 - Meeting of the committee in Basel.

MARCH 30 - The 16th annual delegates meeting was held in Helsinki, in the course of 8th European Junior Championships. Nineteen nations were represented. The Vice-President, Mr.S. Mitchell was in chair, on behalf of the President, Dr. Barge, who apologized due to illness.
Re-elected were Mr.S. Mitchell as Vice-President, Mr.P. Snellens as Honorary Auditor, Mrs. Audrey Kinkead and Mrs. Gisela Hoffmann, both members of the sub-committe for development. Mr. Frank Wilson of England and Mr. Horst Kullnigg of Austria were elected members of the committee, in connection with the European Championships 1984 and European Junior Championships 1985 allotted to their associations respectively. A co-option was announced of Mr.Degtiarev of USSR as a committee member,  with task to intensify the contacts of the socialist countries. Amendments of the regulations for the Europe Cup competition, proposed by the committee, to comply with the actual practice, were adopted. A levy of 10% on the subscription fees for development purposes was approved to be charged from 1984. A new tournament for junior teams -Finlandia Cup“ was introduced, to be played on similar principles as the Helvetia Cup, and the trophy, donated by Mr.A.Segercrantz of Finland, was gratefully accepted. The organization of the first tournament in 1984 was allotted to Swiss Association. The EBU Scholarship 1983 was awarded to Klaus Fischer of Austria.

MARCH 30 - Meeting of the committee in Helsinki.

MAY 11 - Asia beat Europe by a close margin by 5 matches to 4 in an encounter held at Essen, F.R.Germany.

JULY 16-23 - The second European Summer School was held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in England, in which 43 players and 22 coaches from 14 member organizations participated. A meeting of the sub committee for development was held at the occasion.

OCTOBER 7-9 - The 6th Europe Cup competition was successfully organized by the Federation Francaise de Badminton in Paris. A record entry of 16 teams participated and Gentofte BK retained the trophy.

OCTOBER 15 - Meeting of the committee and sub-committees at Mulheim a.d.Ruhr, F.R. Germany.

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JANUARY 27-29 - The first Finlandia Cup tournament, honoured by the visit of Mr.Samaranch, the President of the I.O.C., was staged with great success at Lausanne. Ten national junior teams participated and Norway became the first winner of the new tournament. Pontus Jantti of Finland was awarded the EBU Scholarship 1984, granting free participation at the forthcoming EBU Summer School.

JANUARY 28 - Meeting of the committee at Lausanne. Recommendations to umpires revised. Draft of regulations for the EBU Summer School presented by the sub committee for development. Approved, that entries for all E.B.U. junior competitions should include date of birth af each entrant. Darren Hall of England selected to represent the E.B.U. at the Japan and Chinese-Taipei Open at the invitation of the two associations. Resignation of Mr.V.Degtiarev from his co-opted position in the committee was announced by the USSR Badminton Federation.

APRIL 4-8 - The 9th European individual and the 7th team championships were staged by the B.A. of England at Preston, with 19 member associations participating. England was the winner of the team event and of four individual events.

APRIL 9 - The 17th Annual Delegates' Meeting at Preston. 20 national organizations were represented. Rules and regulations underwent some alternation. A change in rule 5 provided for the possibility of max. two officers to be appointed by the annual delegates meeting for specific, defined tasks, thus abolishing the co-opting by the committee. Regulation 3(b) of appendix I was amended to enable reducing entries proportionally to be standard if the maximum of 64 entries in singles and mixed doubles were exceeded. Motions proposed by member associations to alter the ties in Helvetia and Finlandia Cup to 2 men and 2 ladies’ singles instead of 3 and 1 respectively, and to term the two competitions additionally as the European B group team championships for seniors and juniors respectively, were adopted. Mr.S. Mitchell elected President, Mr. O. Wikstrom elected Vice President, Mr.A.E.ter Metz re-elected Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Mr.O.Wikstrom re-elected chairman of the sub-committee for umpiring, Mr.T. Berg elected chairman of the development sub-committee, Mr.J.Ahrberg elected committee member, Mr.P.Snellens re-elected Honorary Auditor and Mr.J.R. Benes appointed Information Officer. Messrs.R.Gradwell, K.H. Helmdach, R. Kopp, J. Larsen and F. Wilson were re-elected members of the sub-committee for umpiring. Messrs.T. Osthassel and H.Kullnigg were elected and R. Hogge re-elected members of the development sub-committee. The 1988 European Championshis allotted to Norway.

APRIL 10 - Meeting of the committee at Preston. Decided that the President, Vice-President and Hon.Treasurer form a committee for financial planning.

JULY 16-17 - Asia defeated Europe by 7 to 2 matches in the second official intercontinental encounter in Singapore.

JULY 29-AUGUST 5 - The 3rd European Summer School was staged at Ribe, Denmark, with the participation of 8 senior coaches, 22 junior coaches and 52 players from 17 associations. Meeting of the sub-committee for development was held after the conclusion of the Summer School.

SEPTEMBER 29 - Meeting of the committee at Mulheim/Ruhr, preceded by meetings of the sub-committees, which were held on September 28.

OCTOBER 19-21 - 7th Europe Cup was staged by B.K.Aura in Malmo, with 15 teams participating.

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JANUARY 24-27 - 17th Helvetia Cup tournament held in Warsaw with 13 teams participating.

JANUARY 25 - Meeting of the committee in Warsaw, with meetings of the sub-committees subsequently the same day. Checklist of events and instructions for referees approved, to be circulated to member organizations.

MARCH 31-APRIL 6 - The 9th European Junior Championships and the 6th Team Championships staged at Pressbaum, Austria, with 23 teams and players from 26 member associations participating. Denmark was the winner in team competition and in four individual events. Hans Sperre of Norway awarded the EBU Scholarship 1985.

MARCH 31 - At a meeting convened by the sub-committee for development, team managers and delegates representing 17 nations agreed in principle, that introducing of an EBU U-16 event was desirable, though opinions differed on some points of the drafted system.

APRIL 1 - 18th Annual Delegates Meeting held at Grossram near Pressbaum. 26 member organizations represented, including the recently affiliated federations of Bulgaria and Cyprus. Changing of definitions „committee“ and „sub-committee“ in the rules and regulations into „Council“ and „Standing Committee“ respectively was adopted. Adaptations of the draw in singles and mixed doubles and time-table of the European Championships allowing the players of the teams ranked in the group 1 to have a bye to the third round, and the individual event played partly before and partly after the team event, adopted after long discussion by 13 to 9 votes on a try-out basis for the 1986 championships. The wording of several rules and regulations was clarified and improved without any actual changes. Mr.O. Wikstrom was re-elected Vice-President, Mr. P. Snellens Honorary Auditor and Mr .A. Szalewicz of Poland member of the Council in connection with the European Junior Championships being alloted to the Polish Association. Mrs. G. Hoffmann and Mrs. A. Kinkead were re-elected members of the Development Committee. Staging of the 2nd Finlandia Cup Tournament in 1986 was allotted to Hungary, and the Helvetia Cup tournament in 1987  to the Badminton Union of Ireland. A Statute Book of the E.B.U. containing rules, regulations and contact list in form of a ring-book for insertion of any changes was distributed.

APRIL 2 - Meeting of the Council at Pressbaum.

APRIL 4 - Inaugural general meeting of the European Coaches Club at Pressbaum.

JULY 26 - Meeting of the Development Committee at Scheessel, F.R. Germany. Recommended to start the U-16 event as a competition for second-level nations in February 1987, with France willing to stage the tournament. The Information Officer asked to compile a calendar of junior events in Europe and take and overview of the junior scene. Videos on coaching and on the promotion of the game available from the I.B.F.

JULY 27 - Meeting of the Development Committee with the representatives of the European Coaches club. Proposed that the administration of the European Summer School and of the biennial coaching seminar would be left with the E.B.U. and the local organizer. The ECC would be responsible for the programme content. After each seminar the ECC would send a circular to their members advising the availability of papers from local organisers. A European coaching calender should be issued in April each year.

JULY 27 - AUGUST 4 - The 4th European Summer School was held at Scheessel, F.R.Germany, with the participation of 6 senior coaches, 25 junior coaches from 17 member associations and players from 18 member associations. In addition, for the first time, the I.B.F. gave financial support and encouraged the participation of 11 associations from outside Europe.

SEPTEMBER 27-29 - The 8th Europe Cup tournament staged at Mulheim Ruhr, F.R. Germany, with 16 teams participating. BK Gentofte of Denmark regained the trophy.

OCTOBER 4-5 - Meetings of the Committees, followed by meeting of the Council, Mulheim/Ruhr. Approved, i.a. that in future E.B.U. certificates would be granted to coaches participating in the European Summer School and to umpires attending umpiring courses. A Council decision was adopted, that in future „any person directly engaged by a badminton organization may not be elected to the Council, other than as a representative of a member badminton organization staging a European Badminton Championship or European Junior Badminton Championship“.

OCTOBER 15 - Announced by Bulletin 157 that owing to circumstances beyond the control of the E.B.U. the Europe vs. Asia tie, scheduled to be played on October 21-22 at Frederikshavn, Denmark, had to be cancelled.

NOVEMBER 21 - Announced by Bulletin 162 that Eline Coene (Netherlands) was selected to represent EBU at the Chinese-Taipei and Japan Open, with full expence covered by the organizers, with selection complying with the terms of the invitation.

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JANUARY 24-25 - Meetings of the Committees and meeting of the Council in Budapest. Besides reports and current affairs two Council decisions adopted, to be inserted to Appendix VI of the Statute Book, i.e. ad (6) „The Union will not be responsible for any payments unless they have been agreed in writing“, ad (7) „The Council appoints an Advisory Panel for Junior Affairs consisting of three persons“. A new form for the Referee´s report approved.

JANUARY 23-26 - The 2nd Finlandia Cup tournament held in Budapest with 12 teams participating, won by the USSR. Christine Jacobs of Belgium awarded the EBU Players Scholarship 1985.

FEBRUARY - President's paper on the Union´s financial matters circulated to member associations.

MARCH 30 -APRIL 6 - 10th European Championships and 8th Team Championships staged at Uppsala, Sweden, with 21 teams and 190 players participating. Denmark won the titles in teams competition and in 2 individual events, England in 3 individual events.

APRIL 1 - 19th Annual Delegates' Meeting at Uppsala, with 23 national organizations represented. Gibraltar affiliated as the 30th member organization. Technical Committee instituted, with specified wider tasks, instead of the existing Committee for Umpiring. Approved proposed increase of annual subscription (Sw.Fr.100), units (Sw.Fr.50), entry fees for singles and doubles (Sw.Fr.15 and 25 respectively), for teams (Sw.Fr.260), for Helvetia Cup and Finlandia Cup (Sw.Fr.200) and for Europa Cup (Sw.Fr.325). - Adaptations of the draw and time-table of the European Championships, which had been approved by the A.D.M. 1985 on a try-out basis were discussed and it was decided, that for the 1987 Junior Championships the prior existing system should remain valid. Regulation 2.3 of Helvetia and Finlandia Cup amended to cater for the situation when more than 16 entries are received. Mr.S.Mitchell re-elected President, Mrs.Gisela Hoffmann (F.R.Germany) elected Honorary Secretary, Mr.H.Kullnigg (Austria) elected Honorary Treasurer, Mrs.M.Kittag (Austria) elected Honorary Auditor, Mr.J.R.Benes re-appointed Information Officer, Mr.T.Berg re-elected chairman of the Development Committee, Mr.O.Wikstrom elected chairman of the newly instituted Technical Committee and Mr.T.H.Brekke (Norway) elected member of the Council to represent the Norwegian association staging the European Championships in 1988. Mr.A.E.ter Metz, who was the Union´s Hon.Secretary since 1973 and Hon.Treasurer since 1977 announced earlier his wish not to stand for re-election. Messrs R.Hogge and T.Osthassel were re-elected, Mr.J.Ahrberg and Mrs.Slawska elected members of the Development Committee. Messrs. K.H.Helmdach, F.Wilson, J.Larsen, V.Verinchouk and M.van Balgoy were elected members of the Technical Committee. Staging of the Helvetia Cup 1989 was allotted to Hungary and of the Finlandia Cup 1988 to Wales.

APRIL 2 - Meeting of the Council at Uppsala; meeting of the Development Committee held on March 31 and of the new Technical Committee on April 2, after the Council meeting. Apart from reports and other points discussed a decision was adopted, to be inserted under (8) of Appendix VI- „In addition to any other penalties provided for in the Regulations, a fine of Swiss Francs 500 will be imposed on a team which was duly entered, but which, after the draw had been made, withdraws from the competition. Meeting of the Coaches Club after the Council meeting.

APRIL 2-3 - Coaching seminar with 39 coaches from 15 countries attending.

JULY 27 -AUGUST 3 - The 5th European Summer School held in Basel, with 49 players and 41 junior coaches (including 4 non European from IBF) participating.

JULY 29 - Meeting of the Development Committee in Basel. The main points of the agenda included reports, Cooperation Project (Portugal), Grand Prix, DC Policy, Advisory Panel for junior affairs.

SEPTEMBER 25-28 - The 9th Europe Cup at Haarlem, with 16 teams participating. Gentofte BK retained the trophy.

OCTOBER 10-11 - Meeting of the Committees and subsequent meeting of the Council at Mulheim/Ruhr. Reports, financial matters and planning, format of the European Championships, staging of the experimental U-16 EBU tournament in France, Junior Advisory Panel, introduction of the future events were the main points of the agenda.

OCTOBER 13 - Resignation of Mr.O.Wikstrom from his post of Vice-President and Chairman of the Technical Committee for serious family reasons announced. During the preceding meeting the Technical Committee elected Mr.F.Wilson as temporary chairman until the A.D.M. in Warsaw.

OCTOBER 21 - In the third official intercontinental encounter staged in Stockholm Asia beat Europe by 7 matches to 2.

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JANUARY 21-24 - The 18th Helvetia Cup staged in Belfast, with 14 teams participating, won by F.R.Germany. Bulgaria, Spain and Cyprus participated for the first time in the competition.

JANUARY 22-23 - Meetings of the Committees and of the Council in Belfast.

FEBRUARY 13-15 - The first experimental European U-16 B Team Championship successfully staged by the Federation Francaise de Badminton in Strassbourg with 12 countries participating, was won by Poland.

APRIL 12-18 - The European Junior Championships, staged by the Polski Zwiazek Badmintona, took place in Warsaw. The occasion was a rather special one, since it marked the 20th anniversary of the European Badminton Union and the 10th anniversary of the Polish Badminton Association. Teams of 21 member associations competed in the team event, which was won by Denmark, runner up was the team of England. Denmark also took three titles in individual events, Finland and Sweden one each. Maeve Moyniham of Ireland was awarded the EBU Players Scholarship 1987.

APRIL 13 - The 20th Annual Delegates Meeting was held in Warsaw, attended by delegates of 22 member associations.  Mr. A. Szalewicz of Poland was elected Vice-President, Mrs. G. Hoffmann of the F. R. Germany re-elected Honorary Secretary, Mr.F.Wilson of England elected chairman of the Technical Committee; Messrs J. Larsen of Denmark, U .Borgstrom of Sweden and D. Roarty of Scotland elected members of the Technical Committee; Mrs. A. Kinkead of Ireland and Mr. J. Ahrberg of Sweden re-elected members of the Development Committee. The forthcoming EBU events were allotted as follow: 1988 Finlandia Cup to Wales, 1988 Europe Cup to USSR, 1988 Summer School to Sweden,1989 Helvetia Cup to Hungary, 1990 European Championships to the USSR. No applications had been received for the staging of the 1989 European Junior Championships and 1987 Europe Cup.  Proposals of the Council, duly adopted by the delegates covered changes of the regulations concerning the format of the European Championships and of the method of playing the European Team Championships, introduction of sanction fees for the EBU events and introduction of the European Grand Prix (later changed into European Circuit).

APRIL 12-16 - At the occasion of the European Junior Championships in Warsaw meetings were held of the Development Committee on April 12, of the Council on April 14, of the Technical Committee on April 15, and annual meeting of the European Coaches Club on April 16. The Development Committee organized a meeting with team captains on April 13. An anthropological research during the European Junior Championships was carried out by the Polish B.A. and by the Academy of Physical Education.

AUGUST 1-8 - The EBU Summer School was held in Ribe, Denmark, with 50 players and 31 junior coaches participating.

AUGUST 3 - Meeting of the Development Committee in Ribe.

SEPTEMBER 24-27 - The 10th Europe Cup tournament was held at Villach, Austria. 17 teams participated and the competition was won by the team of Triton B.K. from Denmark, which participated for the first time in the tournament.

SEPTEMBER 26-27 - The fourth official intercontinental tie was played between Asia and Europe in Bangkok, Thailand. On both days all matches were televised and although the European team was defeated by 7 matches to 2, spectators watched many exciting and close matches.

OCTOBER 9-10 - Meeting of the Committees, followed by meeting of the Council at Mulheim/Ruhr.

In 1987 died Mr. Eric Hinchcliff, chairman of the first umpiring sub-committee in 1972-73 instituted by his initiative for improvement of umpiring in Europe and for uniformity in the interpretation of the laws of badminton.

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JANUARY 21-24 - The 3rd Finlandia Cup tournament staged in Cardiff, Wales, with 13 teams participating. After some dramatic encounters Ireland emerged victorious, followed by 2nd Poland and 3rd Norway.

JANUARY 22 - Development Committee meeting in Cardiff.

JANUARY 23 - Meeting of the Council in Cardiff. Staging of European Junior Championships 1989 in Manchester, England, confirmed.

JANUARY 29 - Results of anthropometrical tests carried out during the European Junior Championships 1987 circulated.

APRIL 1-3 - Meeting of the representatives of the Spanish Badminton Federation and of the Development Committee in La Coruna.

APRIL 10-16 - European Championships staged by Norges Badminton Forbund in Kristiansand, with 23 teams participating. Denmark was the winner of the team event and of three individual events, England of one individual event and one title was shared by an Anglo-Danish pair.

APRIL 11- 21st Annual Delegates Meeting in Kristiansand, with 27 member associations represented.  Changes of Rules and Regulations (App.I,II,IV) proposed by the Council to improve the editorial layout and to remove inconsistences were adopted. A proposal submitted by the Badmintonsamband Islands to change regulation 1.10 of Appendix II (no promotion/ relegation ties in future championships) was accepted with the necessary majority.  Mr. Stan Mitchell (England) was re-elected President, Mr. Horst Kullnigg (Austria) re-elected Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Torsten Berg (Denmark) re-elected Chairman of the Development Committee, Mr. J.R.Benes (Czechoslovakia) re-appointed Information Officer of the Union. As members of the Development Committee Mrs. Jadwiga Slawska (Poland) and Mr. Terje Osthassel (Norway) were re-elected and Mr. Puzant Kassabian (Bulgaria) was elected.  Mr. Karl Heinz Helmdach (F.R.Germany), Mr. Derrick Roarty (Scotland) and Mr. Vladimir Verinchouk (URS) were re elected members of the Technical Committee. After no application had been received at the last Annual Delegates Meeting to stage the European Junior Championships in 1989, the Badminton Association of England helpfully undertook to organize the event and, accordingly, Mr.Frank Wilson, currently chairman of the Technical Committee and member of the Council, was nominated and elected to the Council additionally as the liaison representative.  The following EBU events were allocated: U 16 B Group Team European Championships 1989 to Spain, Europe Cup 1989 to Spain, Finlandia Cup 1990 to Austria, Summer School 1990 to Spain, Europe Cup 1990 to Hungary, European Junior Championships 1991 to Hungary, Summer School 1991 to Austria and European Championships 1992 to Scotland.

APRIL 12-13 - Subsequent to the A.D.M. meetings of the Development and of the Technical Committees were held on April 12 and of the Council in April 13.

APRIL 13 - Annual General Meeting of the Victor European Coaches Club.

APRIL 13-14 - The 5th European Coaching Seminar on Men’s singles and Men’s doubles held in Kristiansand.

MAY 6-8 - International Championships of Malta concluded the first edition of the European Badminton Circuit 198788. Austria´s Klaus Fischer and Poland´s Bozena Siemieniec were winners in the final ranking of Men’s and Ladies’ singles respectively.

JUNE 17-23 - Coaching course in La Coruna, tutored by Harry Jarvis.

JULY 20-22 - The first top coaches course staged in Malmo, tutored by Mr.Sze.

JULY 23-30 - The 7th European Summer School was held in Malmo, with the participation of 52 players and 26 junior coaches from 18 national organizations, tutored by 8 senior coaches.

JULY 29 - Meeting of the Development Committee in Malmo.

JULY 30 - Council meeting in Malmo.

JULY - French-Spanish coaching course, tutored by Lars Sologub, assisted by 2 Swedish players.

SEPTEMBER 2-6 - Coaching course in Portugal, tutored by Mary Brian.

SEPTEMBER 12-16 - Coaching course in Spain, tutored by Lars Tindholdt.

SEPTEMBER 22-25 - 11th Europe Cup tournament staged in Moscow with 18 teams participating. Sports Army Club Omsk beat Triton B.K. 4-3 in the final.

OCTOBER 1-15 - Coaching course in Bulgaria tutored by Harry Jarvis.

OCTOBER 15 - Meetings of Development Committee and Technical Committee at Mulheim.

OCTOBER 16 - Meeting of the Council at Mulheim.

OCTOBER 18 - Intercontinental encounter Europe versus Asia successfully staged in Frankfurt/Main, F.R.Germany; the European team lost by the narrowest margin by 4 matches to 5 (games 10:10).

1988 had its sadness within the realms of the E.B.U. in the passing on April 13 of Les Wright, one of the moving forces behind the European Coaches Club, in which he served as secretary 1985-1987.

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JANUARY 19-22 - The 19th Helvetia Cup staged in Budapest, Hungary, with 15 teams participating, won by Poland.

JANUARY 20 -21 - Meetings of the Committee and of the Council in Budapest.

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1 - The European Junior Championships staged in Manchester, England, with 22 national associations participating in the team event, which was won by Denmark. Denmark also took all five titles in individual events.   Christelle Mol of France was awarded the EBU Players Scholarship 1989.

MARCH 27- 22nd Annual Delegates Meeting took place at Manchester, with the attendance of delegates from 27 national organizations.   Mr. Torsten Berg (Denmark), the chairman of the Development Committe, was elected new Vice-President. Re-elected to the Council were Mrs.Gisela Hoffmann (F.R. Germany) as Honorary Secretary, and Mr.Frank Wilson (England) as chairman of the Technical Committee. Mrs. Monika Kittag (Austria) was appointed Honorary Auditor.   To the Technical Committee were re-elected Messrs. Ulf Borgstrom (Sweden) and John Larsen (Denmark) and to the Development Committee Mrs. Audrey Kinkead (Ireland) and Mr. Jan O. Ahrberg (Sweden). In connection with the European Junior Championships 1991 in Budapest, the Hungarian B.A. appointed Mr. Zsolt Koränyi as member to serve on the Council on behalf of Hungary till 1991.   Staging of the forthcoming EBU events was allotted as follow:

1990 U-16 European B-Group Team Championships to Poland, 1991 Helvetia Cup to Belgium.  Special attention was paid to prospects of sponsorships and in this connection delegates were invited to a separate meeting with a representative of Badminton-Service GmbH the following day, where BSG proposals, concerning in particular the European Circuit were discussed.

APRIL 14-16 - The 2nd experimental U-16 European B Group Team Championship staged at Cadiz in Spain, with 9 teams participating, was won by the USSR.

MAY 11-13 - European Badminton Circuit 198889 concluded by the Maltese International Championships. The circuit comprised 10 tournaments and the ultimate winners were Klaus Fischer (Austria) and Diana Koleva (Bulgaria).

JUNE 9 - 11 - At the occasion of the 6th Mediterranean Cup in Santa Marinella, Italy, an inaugural conference held by the representatives of the EBU and of the Mediterranean countries on Development Project for Southern Europe.

JULY 22-29 - European Summer School held at Cetniewo,Poland, with the participation of 24 junior coaches and 48 junior players.

JULY 31 - Council meeting at Pressbaum, Austria.

SEPTEMBER 21-24 - The 12th Europe Cup staged at San Javier, Spain, with 18 participating teams, won by Headingley of England.

SEPTEMBER 28-29 - Committee and Council meetings at Pressbaum, Austria. The intercontinental match Asia vs Europe cancelled (majority of strong European players did not participate in the open events in Asia in September, and for a November date no Danish players available due to prior contractual arrangements).

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JANUARY 24-28 - The 4th Finlandia Cup held at Pressbaum, Austria, with 17 junior teams participating, won by Austria. Darius Zieba of Poland was awarded the EBU Players Scholarship 1990.

JANUARY 27 - Council meeting at Pressbaum.

APRIL 8-14 - European Championships staged in Moscow, with the participation of 24 teams. The Danes captured the title in teams competition and four titles in individual events, when the one escaping them went to England.

APRIL 9 - 23rd Annual Delegates Meeting held in Moscow, with 26 member associations represented. Romania was welcomed as a new member of the Union. The following council members were re-elected: Mr. Stan Mitchell President, Mr. Horst Kullnigg Honorary Treasurer and Mr. Josef Benes Information Officer. Ms. Audrey Kinkead was elected Chairman of the Development Committee, Mr. Puzant Kassabian, Ms. Jadwiga Slawska, Mr. Jan Redeker (Netherlands) and Dr. Richard Fifield (Wales) were re-elected resp. elected members of the Development Committee. Re-elected as members of the Technical Committee were Messrs. Karlheinz Helmdach and Vladimir Verinchouk, while Davis Evans (Ireland) was elected as new member of the Technical Committee. The following EBU events were allocated: Europe Cup 1992 to Sofia, Bulgaria, European Junior Championships 1993 to Sofia, Bulgaria and the European Championships 1994 to the Hague, Netherlands.

APRIL 11 - Council meeting in Moscow.

APRIL 26-29 - 1st European B Group U 16 Team Championships were held at Cetniewo, Poland, and from the 12 teams participating the USSR emerged as ultimate winner.

MAY 18.  Death of A.E. ter Metz, E.B.U.Honorary Treasurer 1977-1986, and Hon. Secretary 1973-1986.  

JUNE 9 - The 2nd Conference of the Development Project South Europe held at Santa Severa, Italy, in conjunction with the 7th International Mediterranean Cup. In addition to the Conference an EBU umpires´ course was held.

JULY 21-28 - 9th European Summer School was held at Santander, Spain, attended by 44 players and 20 junior coaches from 16 national associations.

AUGUST 18-25 - Regional Summer School, the first venture as a part of the Development Programme- held at Varna, Bulgaria, attended by 23 players and 24 junior coaches from the national associations of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, USSR and the Hellenic Badminton Development Commission (Greece).

SEPTEMBER 8-9 - The 1st European Badminton Circuit Masters Final played at Mulheim, Germany. Thomas Stuer Lauridsen of Denmark and Elena Rybkina of the USSR were the winners in Men’s and Ladies’ singles respectively.

SEPTEMBER 20-23 - 13th Europe Cup held in Budapest, with a record entry of 19 club teams, won by Goteborgs BK.

SEPTEMBER 22 - Council meeting in Budapest.

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JANUARY 24-27 - The jubilee 20th edition of the Helvetia Cup staged at Varna, Bulgaria. From a record entry of 19 teams only 12 participated, due to the difficulties connected with the war in the Persian Gulf. Poland retained the trophy.

JANUARY 26 - Meeting of the Council at Varna.

MARCH 31-APRIL 6.-The European Junior Championships staged in Budapest,  with 27 national organizations represented in the team event, ultimately won by the USSR. Denmark was the runner up and took four titles in individual events, when one went to Austria.  Nelly Nedialkova of Bulgaria was awarded the EBU Players Scholarship 1991.

APRIL 1.- 24th Annual Delegates Meeting was held in Budapest, with 25 member associations being represented. The following officers were re-elected: Mr.Torsten Berg as Vice-President, Ms.Gisela Hoffmann as Honorary Secretary,  Mr.Frank Wilson as Chairman of the Technical Committee, Ms. Jadwiga Slawska and Mr.Jan O.Ahrberg members of the Development Committee, Messrs. Ulf Borgstrom and John Larsen members of the Technical Committee. Mr.Alois Patek of Czechoslovakia was elected a new member of the Technical Committee. The following EBU events were allocated: Finlandia Cup 1992 to Kladno, Czechoslovakia, Summer School 1992 to Arnhem, the Netherlands, and Europe Cup 1993 to Pressbaum, Austria. Approved, that in compliance with the IBF Rules, clubs or organizations within countries not yet nationally organized may be admitted as Associate Members of the EBU. Following adoption of this Rule, Armenian Athletic Association of Thesaaloniki was elected as associate member of the Union and Badmintonska Zveza Slovenije became an associate member.

APRIL 3.-Council meeting in Budapest. Among other matters complaints at the ADM about the organization of the European Junior Championships in Budapest were discussed and adequate measures were taken. On hand of the recommendation of the ADM it was decided thatin future the EBU events should be allocated by the Council´s decision.

APRIL 26-27.- The 2nd B Group European U-16 team championships were held in Kristiansand, Norway, with participation of eight countries, and were won by the Soviet team.

JUNE 1.- Council meeting at Abingdon, England. Among others, new structure of the Council discussed in detail.

JUNE 14-15.- The 2nd European Circuit Masters Final was staged at Cottbus, Germany, with the participation of top ranked players in Men’s and Ladies’ singles after the conclusion of 11 Circuit tournaments. First prize went to Andrey Antropov and Elena Rybkina, both of the USSR.

AUGUST 3-10.- The 10th European Summer School held at Pressbaum, Austria, with the participation of 43 players and 18 junior coaches from 20 national associations.

AUGUST 24.- Council meeting at Amsterdam-Schipol.

SEPTEMBER 20-22.-The 14th Europe Cup competition held at Edegem, Belgium, with 18 teams competing, ultimately won by Sweden´s Sparvagars Stockholm.

OCTOBER 18 - France beat Switzerland 3-2 in a play-off for a vacant place in European Championships 1992 following the demise of GDR as a separate team after the unification of Germany. The promotion tie took place at Lausanne.

NOVEMBER 30.- Council meeting at Cardiff, Wales. Among others, ADM 1992 Agenda, Circuit tournaments and a new structure of the Council were discussed in detail.

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JANUARY 23-26.- The 5th Finlandia Cup U-18 tournament held in Kladno, Czechoslovakia, with 18 teams participating, won by Germany.

JANUARY 25.- Council meeting at Kladno, with forthcoming events and ADM prevailing in the agenda.

FEBRUARY 16-23.- Record participation of European teams in preliminary rounds of the Thomas and Uber Cup competitions staged at the Sportcentrum de Maasport, Den Bosch, Netherlands.

APRIL 12-18.- European Championships staged by the Scottish Badminton Union in the Kelvin Hall International Sportsarena in Glasgow, with 24 teams participating. Sweden won the teams competition, Denmark took four titles and Sweden one in individual events.

APRIL 11-12.- EBU Congress on „European Badminton Planning for Future“ organized by Development Committee at Albany Crest Hotel, Glasgow, with 36 participants from 19 countries and 5 speakers.
April 11. - The 25 Anniversary Dinner at Merchants Hall Glasgow.
The newly introduced Presidents´ Award conferred on Joe Benes by former EBU Presidents Stellan Mohlin and Herman Valken.
April 12. - Coaching seminar at Jordanhill College, Glasgow, organized by the Development Committee.

APRIL 13.-  The 25th Annual Delegates´ Meeting at Moat House International Hotel, Glasgow, with the attendance of delegates from 27 member associations out of possible 32. Proposals of the Council and of the Norges Badminton Forbund, which were more alike than different, to accept the new structure of the council, effective from the ADM 1993, based on the more commercial philosophy and individual responsibility for the specified functions and programmes, with the Council consisting of 7 officials and with standing committees ceasing their activities at the 1993 ADM were discussed and on a secret ballot the votes were 24 in favour of the Council´s and 3 in favour of the Norwegian proposal. In that connection, a new set of the Rules of the EBU to be effective from the ADM 1993 was accepted nem.con.
Mr.Torsten Berg (Denmark) was elected President, Mr Horst Kullnigg (Austria) elected Vice-President and re-elected Hon.Treasurer, Mrs.Audrey Kinkead (Ireland) re-elected chairman of the Development Committee and Josef R.Benes (Czechoslovakia) re-appointed Information Officer.
As members of the Technical Committee were re elected Messrs David Evans (Ireland) and Karlheinz Helmdach (Germany) and Jos Esveld (Netherlands) was elected. Messrs Puzant Kassabian (Bulgaria), Jan Redeker (Netherlands) and Richard Fifield (Wales) were re-elected and Mr.Christof Dejaco (Italy) was elected member of the Development Committee. In view of the accepted new structure, the election of the committee members and the appointment of the Information Officer was for one year only.
Adopted were the Norwegian proposal to add a new paragraph 4.2.2 in the Rules,  French proposal instructing the Technical Committee to review the organization of the European Team Championships, Council´s proposal to change regulation 2.4 of the Helvetia/Finlandia Cup, paragraph 7.1 of the Europe Cup and 2.1 and 2.3 of the U-16 European Team Championships; lost were two French proposals on Finlandia and Helvetia Cup.
The Estonian Badminton Federation and the Turkish Badminton Federation were affiliated as full members from 1st January 1992 and 1st May 1992 respectively. Applications were received from Croatia, Latvia and Lithuania and an application to upgrade Slovenia to full membership, and it was decided to follow the decisions to be taken at the AGM of the IBF in May 1992.
Staging of the forthcoming EBU events was allotted as follow: Helvetia Cup 1993 at Pressbaum, Austria; Polonia Cup 1993 at Neerpelt, Belgium; Summer School 1993 in Paris, France.

APRIL 14.- Technical and Development Committees meetings at Moat House Hotel Glasgow. Subsequently seminar on the working with sponsors and mass media organized by the Development Committee.

APRIL 15.- Council meeting at Moat House Hotel, Glasgow. Selection of 12 tournaments to be included in the European Circuit 1992/93. Depending upon the number of entries, a fourth day to be accepted for the tournament if needed. From the former Soviet republics seven expected to come to Europe and five to Asia.

APRIL 24-26.- The 3rd European U-16 Team Championships -Polonia Cup - staged in Barcelona with 6 teams participating, won by the Spanish team.

MAY 23-24.- The European Badminton Circuit´s Masters Finals held at Oberhausen (Germany). Anders Nielsen (England) and Elena Rybkina (CIS) were the winners of the Men’s and Ladies’ singles respectively.

JUNE 13-14.- Council meeting at IBIS Airport hotel Amsterdam. Three full members - Croatia, Latvia and Lithuania elected, raising the membership to 36 Slovenia upgraded as full member. Mr.Ciro Ciniglio appointed to work for the EBU on sponsorship matters.

JULY 18-25.- 11th European Summer School held in the Sportcentrum Valkenhuizen, Arnhem,  Netherlands, with 45 players and 19 junior coaches from 15 national associations participating.

JULY 25 - AUGUST 4.- Olympic Games in Barcelona.

AUGUST 10-19.- Trainingscamp and coaches course at Heves, Hungary, with guidance and assistance of the Development Committee.

AUGUST 22.-Meeting of the Development Committee in the Netherlands.

SEPTEMBER 11-13.- The first EBU referees´ seminar held in Mulheim, Germany, with 16 participants from 10 different countries attending.

SEPTEMBER 24-27.- The 15th Europe Cup competition staged in Sofia, Bulgaria, was won by BSC 70 Feibra Linz.

OCTOBER 3 4.  Council meeting in Paris, with the agenda including, among others, Circuit sponsorship, forthcoming events, future structure of the EBU Championships and other competitions in view of the increasing membership. Badminton Federations of Ukraine and Georgia were elected to full membership, effective 3 October 1992.

DECEMBER 14.  Russian Badminton Federation accepted as full member of the EBU.

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JANUARY 20 24. The 21st Helvetia Cup tournament played at Pressbaum   Austria, with 20 teams participating , was won by Austria.

JANUARY 23.   Council meeting at Grossram/Austria. The national organizations of Belorussia, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic elected to full EBU membership. Staging of Europe Cup 1993 allocated to Norway. Euro Challenge to be played in Vienna in August 1993.

Proposal to close formally the European Coaches Club and to transfer the responsibilities to a Coaching Officer to be appointed to work in cooperation with the Development Manager was approved.

APRIL 11 17.  European Junior Championships staged in Sofia. 27 teams participated in the individual events. Danish players regained the title in teams competition and took all five titles in the individual events.

APRIL 12.  The 26th Annual Delegates Meeting in Park Hotel, Sofia, with an attendance of delegates from 31 of 40 affiliated national organizations. Mrs.Gisela Hoffmann (Germany) was re elected Honorary Secretary, Mr.Frank Wilson (England) was elected Manager for Events, Mr. Ciro Ciniglio (England) elected Manager for Sponsoring and Marketing and Mrs.Monika Kittag (Austria) was re appointed Honorary Auditor. Approved increase of Annual subscriptions (SFR 190), units (SFR 135) entry fees for singles and doubles (SFR 20 and 32 respectively), for teams (SFR 340), for Helvetia/Finlandia Cup (SFR 340), U 16 Team Championships (SFR 180), Europe Cup (SFR 380) and sanction fees for the EBU events, ranging from SFR 200 ( U 16 Team Championships ) to SFR 10.000 (Europe vs. Asia). Based upon the assignment of the last ADM, a new concept of the format of the European Team and Individual Championships and the Helvetia/Finlandia Cup was proposed and accepted, complying with the considerably increased membership of the Union.The European Team Championships will in future comprise the first 16 teams, in two groups of eight each, divided into sub groups of four, playing each other with subsequent matches of teams of equal ranking, with promotion and relegation from and to the B Group of the European Team Championships (Helvetia Cup). The Europe Cup 1993 was allocated to Norway and the Finlandia Cup 1994 to the Czech Republic by the Council´s decision.

APRIL 11 12.  Development discussion meeting in Sofia, the second day with 7 top badminton nations.

APRIL 13.   Council meeting in Sofia. Matters arising from the ADM, the fortcoming events and current matters were discussed. Confirmed that the U 16 events will not be held in 1994.

APRIL 23 25.  The 4th European U 16 Team Championships (Polonia Cup) were staged by the Flemish Badminton League at Neerpelt, Belgium, with 9 teams participating. The Polish team regained the trophy.

JUNE 8.   The 6th international encounter Europe versus Asia staged in Belfast, Nothern Ireland, was won by the European team 3 2.

JUNE 12 13.  Council meeting at Pruhonice, Czech Republic. Among other current matters preparation of the forthcoming events reviewed.

JULY 17 24.  The 12th EBU Summer School held in the Olympic training centre INSEP in Paris,  when 20 junior coaches, and 59 players from 18 countries worked under the direction of Martin Andersen and top coaches from seven European nations.

AUGUST 20 23.  The Euro Sega Challenge 1993 staged at Lugner City in Vienna, with the participation of 12 invited to European Men’s singles players was won by Poul Erik Hoyer (Denmark).

SEPTEMBER 16 19.   Olympic Solidarity course for administrators held at Zakopane, Poland.

SEPTEMBER 23 26.  The Europe Cup 1993, staged at Kristiansand, Norway was won by Lillerod BK (Denmark) beating Goteborgs BK (Sweden) 4 3 in the final.

OCTOBER 16 17.  Council meeting in Dublin. The staging of the Helvetia Cup 1995 allocated to the Cyprus Badminton Federation.

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JANUARY 20 - 23. The 6th Finlandia Cup tournament (European B Group Junior Team Championship) was played in Kladno, Czech Republic, according to the new format with 5 events per tie. 15 teams were participating and the trophy went to Bulgaria.

JANUARY 22.  Council meeting in Kladno. Among other current matters preparations of the forthcoming events were reviewed.

APRIL 10 - 17.  European Championships were staged in Den Bosch, in the Netherlands. 20 teams were invited to compete in the team championships and 29 member associations entered players in the individual events. Sweden retained the title in the teams competition. Two titles in individual events went to Sweden, one to Denmark and England each, and one to a Danish-Swedish combination.

APRIL 10.  The 27th Annual Delegates Meeting in Motel Nuland, near Den Bosch, with 30 member associations represented. Mr. Torsten Berg (Denmark) was re elected President of the Union, Mr.Horst Kullnig (Austria) re elected Honorary Treasurer and Mrs. Audrey Kinkead was re elected Development Manager. Increase of the basic annual subscription fee to SFR 195, , of the subscription unit to SFR 140,  and of the sanction fee for the European Badminton Circuit to SFR 400,  were approved. A proposal to relax the regulation on foreign players in the Europe Cup competition was approved with sufficient majority after a lengthy discussion. Subject to the sanction given by the I.B.F. European Championships for veterans will be introduced.

APRIL 11.  Marketing and Media Seminar held in Den Bosch emphasized the professional approach required in dealing with media and marketing matters.

APRIL 12. Council meeting in Den Bosch. Besides matters arising from the ADM, the sponsorship agreement with Victor for the 1994/95 Circuit, the offer of Yonex to sponsor the Summer School and European Championships with shuttlecocks, the planned Youth Tour to China, the Europe vs Asia match, umpires certificate examinations and umpires courses, inclusion of 15 tournaments in the 1994/95 series of the European Circuit, and the nominations of the referees and C.O.M. for the forthcoming E.B.U. events were dealt with.

JUNE 17-19.  Euro Sega Challenge was held at the Lugner City, a shopping centre in Vienna, with the participation of 12 invited top European Men’s singles players and won by Poul Erik Høyer (DEN).

JUNE 25-26.  Council meeting in Gentofte Hotel, Copenhagen. Stan Mitchell´s decision to resign from Council was noted with regret. The matters dealt with included, among others, the announced withdrawal of Ukraine from Helvetia Cup in Cyprus, planned coaching courses, junior advisory panel for the 1995 European Junior Championships, umpires courses, the pending membership application from Yugoslavia, ABC decision to cancel the Asia vs Europe match due to the loss of sponsorship, final ranking of the 1993/94 Circuit and the  Euro Sega Challenge.

JULY 23 - 30.   A successful Summer School took place at Caldas da Rainha in Portugal, attended by 42 players and 25 coaches.

JULY 14 - AUGUST 1.   A youth team from Europe, comprising 20 young players from Denmark, Sweden, England, Germany and Netherlands, accompanied by a team manager and two coaches toured China.

SEPTEMBER 22 - 25.  Europe Cup was staged in Most, Czech Republic, with the record entry of 24 club teams. Lillerod BK (Denmark) retained the trophy beating Goteborgs BK (Sweden) 5 2 in final.

OCTOBER 15.  Council meeting in Grand Hotel Malahide, Dublin. The items dealt with, besides preparation of the forthcoming events, included alternative venues for the Europe Asia match 1995, BSG case, coaching and umpiring courses, a fine of SFR 400 imposed to the Bulgarian Badminton Federation for violation of the 4.3 Europe Cup regulation, a vacancy for the position of Sponsor and Marketing Manager after Ciro Ciniglio´s resignation from Council and the EBU office in future.

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JANUARY 19 - 22. The 22nd Helvetia Cup Tournament, organized by the Cyprus Badminton Federation in Nicosia, with 15 teams participating, was won by Ukraine. The top three teams, i.e. of Ukraine, Bulgaria and Ireland, promoted to compete in the 1996 European Team Championships.

JANUARY 20 - 21. Council meeting in Nicosia. Among other current matters, preparations of the forthcoming events were reviewed. The proposed introduction of a new event for national teams met with little interest and was therefore given up.

MARCH 29 - 31. The AMOR Tournament in Groningen was the concluding tournament of the European Badminton Circuit 199596. In the final points standings the winners were Rikard Magnusson (SWE) in men's singles with 540 points and Michele Rasmussen (DEN) in ladies' singles with 500 points. Nathan Robertson (ENG) reached the top in men's doubles with 410 points, Mette Schojdager (DEN) with 480 points in ladies' doubles and Nathan Robertson (ENG) with 420 points in mixed doubles.

APRIL 9 - 15. The European Junior Championships were staged in Nitra, Slovakia. 29 member associations sent their players to compete in the event. Denmark retained the title in the teams competition. Three titles in individual events went also to Denmark and one to the Netherlands and England each.

APRIL 9. At the 28th Annual Delegates Meeting in Nitra, Slovakia, 29 member associations were represented. Mrs.Gisela Hoffmann (Germany) was re elected Hon. Secretary and Mr.Frank Wilson (England) was re elected Events Manager for the period 1995 1997. The position of the Marketing and Sponsorship Manager remained vacant. The delegates approved the increase of the annual subscription fee to SFR 195 per national association, of the subscription unit to SFR 140, and of entry fees for doubles to SFR 35 per pair. Proposed changes of Rules D1, E3, E5, F, G2, G4 and G5, meant to clarify the existing wording, the introduction of Rule L on the exclusion from membership, and of the Regulations for the European Championships, of the Regulations of the European Team Championships, of the Regulations for the Helvetia Cup  Finlandia Cup, for the Europe Cup competition and for the Polonia Cup were˙accepted nem.con. In a discussion on the EBU administration in future, the meeting gave general support to the establishing of a permanently staffed office.

APRIL 9. Development seminar in Nitra, attended by representatives of 19 member associations, was aimed to long term strategy for badminton in Europe.

APRIL 11. Council meeting in Nitra. The Council elected the Badminton Federation of Moldavia to full membership, effective 11th April 1995, decided that the Hellenic Badminton Federation be accepted as full member of EBU immediately after its election to membership with IBF (27th May 1995). The Europe Cup 1995 was allocated to Norway and the Finlandia Cup 1996 to Portugal. The Summer School 1996 to be held in Louvain, Belgium, from 20th to 27th July. Matters arising from the Annual Delegates Meeting and the preparations for the forthcoming events were discussed in detail.

APRIL 21 - 23. The 5th European U 16 Team Championships (Polonia Cup), with the participation of teams from 11 member associations, were staged by the Welsh Badminton Union in Cardiff. Golden, silver and bronze medals were gained by the teams of Russia, Poland and Wales respectively.

MAY 12-14. The 1st European Veteran Championships were staged in Hillerod, Denmark.

MAY 18. Meeting of the European representatives at the IBF Annual General Meeting was held at Continental Hotel in Lausanne, to explain and discuss items of mutual interest of the AGM agenda.

MAY 19. Meeting of the Council with the IBF Executive Committee in Lausane on future cooperation.

MAY 30. The intercontinental match Europe versus Asia, organized by the Vlaamse Badmintonliga was played in the Sportshall Tolhuis in Gent. The match was won by the Asian team 4 1.

JUNE 23 25. Council meeting at Master Robert Hotel, London. Among other current matters, the events staged during the past period were appraised and the preparation of the forthcoming events reviewed. Following the decision taken at the April Council meeting, it was stated that the Hellenic Badminton Federation had been accepted as full member, effective 28th May 1995. The Yugoslavian Badminton Federation was accepted as full member of the EBU, effective 25th June 1995.

JULY 20 27. The 14th Summer School 96 was held in Ollerup, Denmark.

SEPTEMBER 21 24. The 18th Europe Cup Competition was organized by the Norges Badminton Forbund in Kristiansand. Teams of 17 national associations took part. Once again Lillerod Badmintonklub (Denmark) defended the Europe Cup Trophy successfully, beating Goteborgs Badmintonklubb (Sweden) 5 2 in the final. Semi finalists were Bayern 05 Uerdingen (Germany) and Avantgard Technochim (Russia).

OCTOBER 6 8. Meeting with the IBF officials in Malmo on the decentralisation of certain responsibilities in areas such as development and court officials training, administration and affiliation fees.

OCTOBER 14 15. Council meeting at Hotel Schloa Wilhelminenberg, Vienna. The matters dealt with included, among others, appraisal of events in the inter meetings period, report on the budget, Youth Tour to China, Development Project Group meeting in Kristiansand, training seminars for prospective umpires, umpires courses, legal proceedings with BSG, future structure of the EBU, forthcoming events, junior advisory panel, etc. At the conclusion, a meeting was held with the representatives of the Badminton Express on the Lauda Air CuP 1996.

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JANUARY 5 - 7. The Lauda Air Cup was staged in Dornbirn, Austria.

JANUARY 18 - 21. The 7th Finlandia Cup Tournament was staged by the Portuguese Badminton Federation in Caldas da Rainha, with 16 teams participating.

JANUARY 19. Council meeting in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. The agenda covered reports of the Councillors, forthcoming events, continued sponsorship of the European Badminton Circuit by the Victor company, future structure of the EBU and review of Rules and Regulations.

FEBRUARY 17 - 24. Thomas and Uber Cup Preliminaries were staged in Prague, Czech Republic.

MARCH 29 - 30. The AMOR Tournament in Groningen concluded the Victor European Badminton Circuit 199596. The ultimate winners of the Circuit in men's and ladies' singles became Ricard Magnusson (SWE) and Michele Rasmussen (DEN) respectively.

APRIL 13 - 20. The 1996 European Championships were staged in Herning, Denmark. The Danes captured the title in teams competition and all titles in individual events. In the final of the teams competition Denmark beat Sweden 3 2, and in the play off for bronze medal England beat Russia 5 0.

APRIL 14. The 29th Annual Delegates Meeting was held at Scandic Hotel in Herning. 32 member associations of the total number of 43 full members were represented. Mr.Torsten Berg (Denmark) was re elected President, Mr.Horst Kullnigg (Austria) was re elected Treasuer and Mrs.Audrey Kinkead (Ireland) was re elected Director for Coaching and Development, all for the period 1996 1998. Amendments of Rule F, Rule E 6, of Regulation 5.2 (European Championships), of 2.3 and 3.5 (Helvetia and Finlandia Cup) and 6.3 (Europe Cup) were approved and the proposed set of Regulations for European Veteran Championships was accepted. The meeting supported the new policy and strategy proposed by the Council and instructed the Council to form an EBU Working Group to consider the strategy, rules and regulations of the Union.

APRIL 16. Council meeting at Scandic Hotel, Herning. Besides other matters arising from the ADM, the Council decided on the composition of the EBU Working Group and agreed to invite 6 people from member nations, covering as many parts of Europe as possible, to work together with the Council, as follow: Truls Brekke (Norway), Puzant Kassabian (Bulgaria), Vladimir Lifshits (Russia), Joao Matos (Portugal), Jos Nouwt (Netherlands) and Jadwiga Slawska Szalewicz (Poland) *]. The following EBU events were allocated: Europe Cup 1996, 19 22 September in Haarlem, Netherlands, Helvetia Cup 1997, 9 12 January in Strasbourg, France, European Junior Championships 97, 30 March   6 April in Nymburk, Czech Republic, European Veteran Championships 97, 27 30 March in Gateshead, England. Events were accepted for the 199697 Victor European Badminton Circuit.
*] Note: At a meeting of European representatives in Hong Kong it was decided to invite additionally Mr. Geoffrey Snowdon (England) to the EBU Working Group.

JUNE 28 - 29. First meeting of the EBU Working Group in St.Petersburg, Russia. In compliance with the decisions of the ADM in Herning and the decisions of the IBF AGM 1996, it was concluded to recommend to the Extraordinary Delegates Meeting in Warsaw: to establish a staffed EBU Office; to agree a revision of the Rules of the EBU; to agree a revision and adaptation of the EBU structure to cater for the responsibilities to be delegated from IBF; to agree a marketing and sponsorship strategy for the Union.

JUNE 30. Council meeting in St.Petersburg, Russia. The following EBU events were allocated: Europe Cup 1997, 17 19 September, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and European Championships 1998, 11 18 April, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Owing to the major changes accepted at the IBF AGM in Hong Kong in May, concerning continental co ordination, there shall be one membership common to both the IBF and the relevant continental organization. As a result of this change, from January 1997 the Badminton Federation of Armenia and the Israel Badminton Association shall become members of the EBU. Consequently, the Council decided that teams from the said new EBU member countries would be eligible to participate in the Helvetia Cup event, to be played in January 1997.

JULY 20 - 27. The 15th annual EBU Summer School was held in Louvain Le Neuve in cooperation with the Ligue Francophone de Belge. 43 players from 13 countries and 18 coaches from 12 countries attended.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 1. Olympic Games in Atlanta.

SEPTEMBER 18 - 22. In the Europe Cup 1996, played in the Duinwickhall in Haarlem, Netherlands, 23 club teams participated. The trophy was won by Kastrup Magleby (Denmark) beating Pigment Technokhim (Russia) 4 1 in the final.

SEPTEMBER 20 - 21. Council meeting in Haarlem. Among other current affairs, the agenda included the forthcoming events and the preparations for the Extraordinary Delegates Meeting in Warsaw.

DECEMBER 14. The Extraordinary Delegates Meeting held at Hotel Victoria Intercontinental in Warsaw was convened to discuss and approve the necessary rule changes and the future structure of the EBU, including the establishing of a staffed EBU Office, revision of the Rules of the EBU, in particular sections A and B, revision and adaptation of the EBU structure to cater for the responsibilities delegated from IBF, principles of the marketing and sponsorship strategy, and instituting a rolling, annually reviewed five year strategic plan.

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JANUARY 9 - 12. The 23rd Helvetia Cup Tournament   European B Group Team Championships   was staged in Strasbourg, France, with teams from 19 member associations participating. The teams of France, Portugal and Switzerland qualified for the 1998 European Team Championships to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria.

JANUARY 25 - 26. Council meeting at Regent Hotel in Leamington Spa in England.

MARCH 27 -30. European Veteran Championships were held in Gateshead, England. Players from 16 member associations participated in the tournament and competed in all 5 events in the age groups over 40, over 45, over 50 and over 55.

MARCH 30 - APRIL 6. The 15th European Junior Championships and the 12th Team Championships were staged in Nymburk, the Czech Republic. Denmark won the titles in teams competition and in 3 individual doubles events, the Netherlands in both singles events.

MARCH 30. The 30th Annual Delegates Meeting was held in Nymburk, in the Czech Republic. Delegates from 35 member associations attended the meeting. According to the new structure accepted at the Extraordinary Delegates Meeting in Warsaw in December 1996, members for 5 new Council post were elected: Truls H.Brekke (Norway)   Vice President ( 1999), Vladimir Lifshits (Russia)   Vice President ( 1998), Olaf Fangel (Denmark)   Director for Circuit Tournaments ( 1999), Jadwiga Slawska Szalewicz (Poland)   Director for Sponsorship & Marketing ( 1999) and Joao Matos (Portugal)   Director for Public Relations ( 1999). Frank Wilson (England) was also re elected Director for Events for the period 1997/1998.

MARCH 31. The EBU Working Group held a final meeting in Nymburk. The worked out concepts on strategy and planning were handed over to the Council.

APRIL 1. Council meeting at Hotel Ostrov in Nymburk. The first meeting of the enlarged Council.

APRIL 24 - 27. The 6th European U 17 Team Championships (Polonia Cup) with a record entry of 21 teams were staged in Istambul, Turkey. Golden, silver and bronze medals were gained by the teams of Russia, the Czech Republic and England respectively.

APRIL 27. The Victor European Badminton Circuit was concluded with the Austrian International Championships in St.Polten, Austria. The winners of the Circuit became Daniel Ericsson (Sweden) and Tanja Berg (Denmark) in men's and ladies' singles respectively

MAY 19 - JUNE 1. World Championships for teams (Sudirman Cup) and individuals in Glasgow; 34 European countries participated in the team event. During the course of the Championships the Annual General Meeting of the International Badminton Federation was held, in which 36 European member associations were represented.

JUNE 20 - 22. Council meeting at Gentofte Hotel in Gentofte, Denmark. Allocation of Finlandia Cup (European B Junior Team Championships) to Finland, Europe Cup 1998 to Czech Republic, Polonia Cup 1999 to Yugoslavia, Europe Cup 1999 to Austria. The Badminton Association of the Azerbaijan Republic became member of the IBF and EBU.

JULY 19 - 26. The 16th annual EBU Summer School was held in Duisburg, Germany, with the participation of 49 players from 19 countries and 13 junior coaches, under guidance and instruction of 8 senior coaches.

SEPTEMBER 17 - 21. The 20th Europe Cup competition took place in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, with 20 club teams competing. The trophy was won by the Danish club team Hvidovre BC, beating the Russian club team Pigment RCTU 4 3 in the final.

OCTOBER 10 - 11. Council meeting at Artis Tower Hotel, Vienna. The following EBU events were allocated: Helvetia Cup 1999 to Greece, European Junior Championships 1999 and European Championships 2000 to Scotland, European Veteran Championships 1999 to Austria and Finlandia Cup 2000 to Austria.

DECEMBER 28. The Greenland Badminton Federation was accepted for membership with the IBF and EBU, which brought the total membership of the EBU up to 47 nations.

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JANUARY 7 - 11 The 8th Finlandia Cup (European B Group Junior Team Championships) was played in Helsinki with a record entry of 23 teams. The trophy was won by the Finnish team, which qualified with the teams od the Czech Republic (runner up) and the Slovak Republic (3rd) for the 1999 European Junior Team Championships in Scotland.

JANUARY 30 - 31 Council meeting.

APRIL 18 - 25 The 1998 European Championships were staged in Sofia, Bulgaria. Denmark retained the title in teams competition and took four titles, and England one in individual events. Players from 32 member associations participated in the championships. During the European Championships EBU President Torsten Berg presented Poul Eric Hoyer Larsen, the Olympic gold medallist, with the Presidents' Award for his outstanding services to European badminton.

APRIL 19 The 31st Annual Delegates Meeting was held at Park Hotel Moskva in Sofia, with the attendance of delegates from 37 member associations out of possible 47. Council reports, presented budgets, proposed rule and regulation and regulations changes, including the strategy and working plan 1998 2002 were accepted by the meeting.

Torsten Berg was re elected President for the period 1998 2000. Also re elected for the same period were Vladimir Lifshits (Vice President), Horst Kullnigg (Director for Finances), Frank Wilson (Director for Events) and Audrey Kinkead (Director for Coaching and Development).

APRIL 20 Council meeting.

APRIL 20 Workshop/seminar for umpire trainers was held in Sofia.

MAY 3 The Victor European Badminton Circuit 199798 was concluded with the Austrian International Championship. The winners of the Circuit became Niels Christian Kaldau (Denmark) and Maja Pohar (Slovenia) in men's and ladies' singles respectively.

JUNE 26 27 Council meeting.

SEPTEMBER 16 20 The 21st  Europe Cup competition was staged in Most, Czech Republic, with a record entry of 28 club teams. Kastrup Magleby BK (Denmark) captured the trophy, beating Pigment Technochim Moscow (Russia) in the final.

OCTOBER 9 - 10 Council meeting

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JANUARY 20 - 24 The 24th Helvetia Cup Tournament   European B Group Team Championships   staged in Lisburn, North Ireland, with 13 teams participating, was won by Iceland. The top three teams, i.e. of Iceland, Poland and Portugal promoted to compete in the 2000 European Team Championships.

JANUARY 22-23 Council meeting

APRIL 3-11 The 16th European Junior Championships and the 13th Team Championships were staged in Glasgow. The team event was won by Germany, runner up was the team of Russia. Germany also took three titles in individual events and Denmark two.

MARCH 31 - APRIL 4  The 3rd European Veteran Championships were held at Innsbruck in Austria. Players from 21 member associations participated in the tournament. In total 421 players competed in all 5 events in the age groups 40+, 45+, 50+ and 55+. Players from Germany won 10 gold medals, 6 gold medals were won by Danish players, 3 gold medals went to English players and 1 gold medal to a Swedish player.

APRIL 4.  The 32nd Annual Delegates Meeting was held at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, attended by delegates from 29 member associations. Council reports, presented budgets, the Strategy and Working Plan 1999 - 2003 and proposed rule and regulation changes were accepted by the meeting. For the vacant positions on Council the following were re-elected for the period 1999-2001: Vice-President Truls H.Brekke, Director for Sponsorship & Marketing Mrs. Jadwiga Slawska-Szalewicz and Director for Public Relations Joao Matos. As a new Council Member for a two-year period Mrs. Irene Delwai (Switzerland) was elected for the post of Director for Circuit Tournaments. 

APRIL 5.  At their meeting in Glasgow, the following events were allocated by the EBU Council: 2001 European B Team Championships (Helvetia Cup) 24-28 January 2001 to Czech Badminton Association; 2001 European Junior Championships 7-14 April 2001 to Polish Badminton Association; 2002 European Championships 13-20 April 2002 to Swedish Badminton Association.

APRIL 6. Discussion meeting on Junior Badminton in Europe was held with representatives from 13 European member countries. Various points on junior maters within Europe were considered. It was agreed that such meetings should be regularly held at European Junior Championships.

MAY 2. The Victor European Badminton Circuit 1998/99 was concluded with the Austrian International Championship. The winners of the Circuit became Ruud Kuijten (Belgium) and Elle Karachkova (Russland) in men´s and ladies´ singles respectively.

JUNE 5. At their meeting in Austria, the Council discussed the tournament schedule of EBU events which is out of balance in the even- and odd-numbered years. To remedy the situation, the European Veteran Championships will be held as planned from 6-10 June 2001 (in Sofia) and another European Veteran Championships in early June 2002. The Council allocated the following events: 2000 Europe Cup August 31- September 3, 2000 to Rotterdam in the Netherlands; 2001 European Veteran Championships to Sofia in Bulgaria. 

JULY 17-24. The 18th annual EBU Summer School was held in Neerpelt, Belgium, in cooperation with the Vlamse Badminton Liga, in which 26 players and 12 coaches from 13 countries participated.

SEPTEMBER 23-26. The 22nd Europe Cup tournament was staged in Dornbirn, Austria, with 24 teams competing. The final was won by the German club team BC Eintracht Südring Berlin, beating the Dutch Sportschool van Zijderveld. 

OCTOBER 15-16.  Council meeting

OCTOBER 13-17.  The 7th European Under 17 Team Championships (Polonia Cup) was staged in Spala, Poland. A record entry of 23 teams competed in the tournament and the Russian team successfully defended the trophy.

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JANUARY 19-23. The 9th European B Junior Team Championship (Finlandia Cup) was staged in Pressbaum, Austria, with 20 teams participating. The Finnish team successfully defended the trophy. The top three teams, i.e. Finland, Romania and Spain qualified for the 2001 European Junior Team Championships.
 
JANUARY. Council meeting.

APRIL 22-29. The Millenium European Championships were staged in the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in Glasgow. Denmark retained the title in teams competition and took four titles and England one in individual events.

APRIL 22.  The 33rd Annual Delegates Meeting was held at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, attended by delegates from 31 member associations. Council reports, presented budgets, the Strategy and Working Plan 2000-2004 and proposed rule and regulation changes were accepted. The ADM took the unanimous decision to change the playing system of the European B Team Championships (Helvetia Cup), the European Junior B Team Championships (Finlandia Cup) and the European Under 17 Team Championships (Polonia Cup). For the vacant positions on Council the following were re-elected for a further period of two years: President Torsten Berg and Director for Finances Horst Kullnigg. As new Council Members for the period 2000-2002 were elected: Vice-President Jos Nouwt, Director for Events Mojmir Hnilica nd Director for Coaching and Development Simon Laskey.

APRIL 23. Council meeting.

JUNE. Council meeting

JULY 15-22. The 19th annual EBU Summer School was held, for the third consecutive year,  in the Provincial Sportscentrum Dommelhoff, Neerpelt, Belgium, in cooperation with the Vlamse Badminton Liga. 30 players and 12 coaches from 11 national associations were in attendance, with Gordon Spencer (Scotland) acting as School Director for the first time, assisted by 7 staff coaches.

AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 3. The 23rd Europe Cup tournament was staged in Eindhoven, Netherlands, with 22 teams competing. Kastrup Magleby (DEN) regained the trophy, beating Fyrisfjadern (SWE) in the final.

NOVEMBER. Council meeting  

2000 had its sadness within the realms of the E.B.U in the passing of Audrey Kinkead, former Director for Coaching and Development, the sphere in which she was the moving force since 1981, and holder of the IBF Distinguished Service Award in recognition of prominent service given to the game in an international context; of Dr. Richard Fifield, President of the Welsh Badminton Union and former member of the Development Committee; and of Dr. Nada Benesova, who produced in 1977 the first Yearbook as a donation to the Union´s 10th anniversary and continued in its updating ever since.     

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JANUARY 24-28.  The 2001 European B Team Championships (the 25th Helvetia Cup) were successfully staged in Most/Czech Republic. For the first time the new playing system with play in groups in the first stage and a series of ranking competitions in the final stage was used and accepted by the 19 participating teams. The teams from Spain, Portugal and Czech Republic qualified for the 2002 European Team Championships to be held in Malmo/Sweden. 

APRIL 7-14.  The 17th European Junior Championships and the 14th Team Championships were staged in Spala, Poland. Germany retained the title in teams competition. Two titles in individual events went to Denmark, one to the Netherlands and Germany each, and one to a Polish and Belorussian combination.

APRIL 7.  The 34th Annual Delegates Meeting was held at Hotel Jan III Sobieski in Warsaw. Delegates from 30 member associations attended the meeting. Council reports, presented budgets, the Strategy and Working Plan 2001-2005 and proposed regulation changes were accepted. For the vacant positions on Council the following were re-elected for a further two-year period: Vice-President Truls H.Brekke, Director for Circuit Tournaments Mrs. Irene Delvai, Director for Sponsorship & Marketing Mrs. Jadwiga Slawska-Szalewicz and Director for Public Relations Joao Matos. The President informed the ADM that the Director for Coaching & Development Simon Laskey had resigned a few days before the meeting. The third Presidents´ Award, established in 1992 by Stellan Mohlin and Herman Valken to honour outstanding services to European Badminton, was presented to Horst Kullnigg.   

APRIL 29. The 2000/2001 European Badminton Circuit was concluded with the Austrian International Championship. The winners of the Circuit became Przemyslaw Wacha (Poland) and Tracy Hallam (England) in men´s and ladies´ singles respectively.

MAY 16-20. The 4th European Veteran Championships were staged in Sofia. Players from 22 countries in age groups 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+ and 60+ participated in the tournament. Medals were won by players from 11 countries. The most successful country was England, winning 12 gold, 7 silver and 15 bronze medals. 

JUNE 3.  At the Annual General Meeting of the IBF  held in Seville, Spain, 42 European Member Associations were represented. 33 European countries participated in the 7th Sudirman Cup competition.

JULY 14-21.  The 20th EBU Summer School was held in Ollerup, Denmark, with 52 players and 18 coaches from 16 European countries. Gordon Spencer of Scotland and his staff of seven experienced coaches were pleased with both the quality and quantity of the entry. Martin Andersen, Chairman of Svendborg Badminton Klub, the local organiser, and for many years himself the Summer School Director, led a small team of keen and capable colunteers.

SEPTEMBER 5-9.  The 24th Europe Cup competition was staged in Uppsala, Sweden, with 23 club teams competing. For the first time the 5 x 7 scoring system was used in an EBU event. Hvidovre BC (DEN) regained the trophy, beating Fyrisfjadern (SWE) 4-3 in the final.  

OCTOBER 3-7.  The 8th European Under 17 Team Championships (Polonia Cup) in Neerpelt was excellently organized by the Belgian Badminton Federation and in particular by the local organizers the Vlaamse Badminton Liga. Teams from 21 member associations participated and the Russian team successfully defended the trophy.
 
The Council of the Union met in January, April, June and October 2001 to carefully discuss and look into all EBU business, including EBU tournaments and Circuit, financial matters and sponsorship. The short and long term working plans were regularly updated.

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JANUARY 23-27.  The 2002 European B Junior Team Championships (the 10th Finlandia Cup) were successfully staged in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with 20 teams participating. Much to the delight of the Badminton Association of Slovenia and all Slovenian badminton friends, the trophy was won by the Slovenian team in an exciting final against Belgium. The teams from Slovenia, Belgium and Estonia qualified for the 2003 European Junior Team Championships.

FEBRUARY 9.  Death of Dr. med. Heinrich Barge, President of the Union 1982-1984.

FEBRUARY 20.  Death of Stan Mitchell, President of the Union 1984-1992.  

MARCH   The first experimental Junior Badminton Circuit 2001/2002 comprising 9 International Junior Tournaments was concluded with the German Junior. The winners of this Junior Circuit were Elke Biesbrouck from Belgium and Miha Sepec jr. from Slovenia.

APRIL 13-20   The European Championships and European Team Championships were staged in Malmö, Sweden. Denmark retained the title in the Team Championships and took four titles and Netherlands one in the individual events.

APRIL 13  The 35th Annual Delegates’ Meeting was held at the Town Hall in Malmö. Delegates from 31 member associations attended the meeting. For the first time an IBF President attended the ADM. The meeting accepted the presented reports, audited accounts 2001, the Strategy and Working Plan 2002-2006. Also accepted were the proposed rule and regulation changes. The new Development Programme was introduced.

For the vacant positions of Council the following were elected resp. re-elected for the period 2002-2004:  President Torsten Berg, Vice-President Jos Nouwt, Director for Finances Horst Kullnigg, Director for Events Mojmir Hnilica, Director for Development Jadwiga Slawska-Szalewicz.

APRIL   In cooperation with the Swedish Badminton Association, the project group of the European Youth Forum was established in Malmö. The project concept is to give young people of today an opportunity to influence the activities of the European Badminton Union towards developing and adjusting badminton to the sport that would suit young people.

APRIL 28   The 2001/2002 European Badminton Circuit was concluded with the Austrian International Championships. The winners of this Circuit series were Petya Nedeltcheva from Bulgaria and Bobby Milroy from Canada who lives and plays badminton in Denmark.

MAY 12   The Annual General Meeting of the International Badminton Federation was held in Guangzhou/China. 42 European Member Associations were represented. This was the best European representation ever at an IBF AGM held in Asia.

MAY 22-26   The 5th European Veteran Championships were staged in Radebeul, Germany. A record entry of players was received from 23 countries. The tournament comprised all 5 events in the age groups 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+ and 60+.  Medals were won by players from 10 different countries. Gold medals went to:  England 8, Germany 5, Denmark 5, Russia 2 and players from Bulgaria, Israel, Scotland and Sweden won 1 gold medal each.

JUNE 21-23   IBF/EBU Administrators’ Course was held in Göttlesbrunn/Austria.
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Yugoslavia attended the course.

JULY 13-20   The EBU Summer School was held in Ollerup, Denmark with 44 players and 14 junior coaches from 16 member countries participating. Gordon Spence from Scotland acted as School Director, assisted by 5 staff coaches.

AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 1  The 25th Europe Cup competition was staged in Berlin, Germany with 26 club teams from 25 member countries competing. In a very close final the Russian club team Lokomotiv-Record beat the Swedish club team Fyrisfjädern 4:3.

DECEMBER 13-15  An IBF/EBU Referees’ Course was held in Prague/Czech Republic with 22 referees participating.

The Council of the Union met in January, April, June and October 2002 to discuss and look into all EBU business, including EBU tournaments and Circuit, financial matters, sponsorship as well as rules and regulations and the Strategy & Working Plan. One of the main tasks was the final agreement on the permanent office of the EBU in Brøndby in Denmark and the employment of a new General Secretary.

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8th – 12th January 2003. Helvetia Cup in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. 19 Member Associations played under unusually cold conditions, in spite of the hosts’ best efforts. France, Slovenia and the Czech Republic qualified for the 2004 European Championships in Geneva.

24-25th January 2003.  The Council met in Brøndby, the new home of EBU. A reception was held to open the new premises and to thank the Danish NOC and Sports Council, DIF, for their generous support in establishing the EBU Office in the House of Sports. Present were the IOC Member in Denmark and NOC president Kai Holm, the EBU Council and invited guests. A special guest was the newly appointed Gen. Secretary Brian Agerbak, who met the Council for the first time.

1st February 2003. The new office in the House of Sports opened, and Brian Agerbak started as General Secretary. Gisela Hoffmann continued to work in the Krefeld Office until 1 May 2003.

12th - 19th April 2003. The European Junior Championships were held in Esbjerg. Denmark. After fierce competition, Germany again defended the Team title in front of Denmark, Russia and Finland. Traditional top teams like the Netherlands, England and Sweden came 5th, 6th and 7th. Marc Zwiebler dominated the individual events, winning both MS and XD with Birgit Overzier, while the first ever title for Ukraine went to Larysa Griga in WS.

13th April 2003 The 2003 ADM of the EBU was held in Hotel Britannia in Esbjerg. 34 Member Associations were represented at the ADM. The meeting accepted a new playing system for European Team Championships, which removed the division of the 16 participating teams into an A-group and B-group. This change will enable all participating teams to become European Champions.  The Meeting was not in favour of a split of the Team Event and the Individual Event of either the European Senior- or the European Junior Championships. A presentation of the European Badminton Youth Forum was made by Anne Mørup Petersen (DEN) and Frederick Berndt (SWE). For the vacant positions of Council the following were elected Ritchie Campbell (SCO) as Vice-President (2003-2005) replacing Truls H. Brekke who retired, Mojmir Hnilica to the new position as Director for Court Officials (2003-2005) and Peter Tarcala as Director for Events (2003-2004).

14th April 2003. The Council met in Esbjerg

30th April 2003 Gisela Hoffmann retired as General Secretary after 17 years in that position and a total of 22 years with EBU. Council, however, will continue to benefit from her experience in a voluntary capacity, particularly in the Events area.

May 2003. The European Team Veteran Championships due to be played in Cardiff, Wales, were cancelled as there were too few entries. An obvious reason was that IBF had placed the 1st World Senior Championships within 14 days of the EBU Event in a European country.

June 2003 The European Badminton Circuit 2002/2003 was made up of 15 tournaments.The winners of the singles events were: Kasperi Salo (FIN) and Petya Nedeltcheva (BUL). Prize money was paid to the first 5 ranked players in singles and first 6 ranked players in doubles. As no sponsor had been found after the bankruptcy and non-fulfilment of the contract by the company RUTAC, the prize money was paid from the EBU reserves.

11th – 12th July 2003. The Council met in Göttlesbrunn, Austria

12th – 17th July 2003 The EBU Summer School was held in Ollerup, Denmark with Gordon Spence as School Director and Martin Andersen as local organiser. Gordon served for the last time as School Director and EBU thanked him for his contribution over the years. The excellent facilities in Ollerup and the local staff contributed to another well-staged EBU Summer School.

15th August 2003. Günther Huber started as the first Itinerant Coach of EBU. A comprehensive program was put together to benefit as much as possible from his services around the continent.

3rd – 7th September 2003. Europe Cup in Uppsala, Sweden. 23 club teams competed in the European Championships for winners of the National Leagues.The European Club Team Championship was for the second year running won by the Russian Club Team Lokomotiv Record, defeating the local club Fyrisfjädern in the final.

18th-21st September 2003. 23 candidates participated in a Referee’s Training Course in Göttlesbrunn directed by IBF Certificated Referees Torsten Berg and Isabelle Jobard.

1st – 5th October 2003 European U17 Team Championships for the Polonia Cup were played in Dublin, Ireland. 18 teams had found there way to Ireland and gave a display of badminton that showed a lot of promise for the future of the sport in Europe. The National team of Russia once again proved to be the strongest in Europe in this age group.

31st October – 1st November 2003. The Council met in Budapest, Hungary.

The Council of the Union met in January, April, July and October-November 2003 to discuss and decide on EBU business in the areas of the Directors including financial matters. Other matters of importance were the enlargement of the EBU in terms of Member Associations, marketing, the Itinerant Coach and the strategy and working plan. 

The Council was pleased to welcome FYR Macedonia as a new Member of the EBU taking the total number of Member Associations to 48.

At the end of 2003 Torsten Berg announced that he would step down as EBU President in 2004 as a result of an increased workload in his professional job. Another factor was that his position in the IBF as Chair of the IOC/UN Committee would demand a considerable effort in the coming period. 

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The Annual Delegates' Meeting was held in Herning, Denmark alongside the 2008 European Championships.

Further Council Meetings took place in Malta (September), Berlin (Germany) in June and Herning (Denmark) in April and in Almere (Netherlands) in February.

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The Annual Delegates' Meeting took place in Milan (Italy) alongside the 2009 European Junior Championships. Alberto Miglietta (Italy) was elected Vice President.

Further Council Meetings took place in Tallinn (Estonia) in January, in Porto (Portugal) in September and in Copenhagen (Denmark) in June.


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The Annual Delegates' Meeting was held in Paris (France) on 29 August alongside the World Championships. Originally the ADM was scheduled to take place during the 2010 European Championships in Manchester, England but had to be postponed due to the volcano ash clouds forced most flights in that period were cancelled.

In Paris, the 1996 Olympic Champion Poul-Erik Høyer (Denmark) was elected President of BEC as Tom Bacher (Denmark) did not seek re-election.

Further Council Meetings took place in Budapest (Hungary) in November,


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The Annual Delegates' Meeting took place in Vantaa (Finland) alongside the 2011 European Junior Championships.

Further Council Meetings took place in Stockholm (Sweden) in January, Timisoara (Romania) in September and in December Council met in Copenhagen (Denmark) for a strategic meeting.

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Council met in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 16 February for the first Council meeting of the year. The meeting was held alongside the 2012 European Men's and Women's Team Championships.

At the 45th Annual Delegates' Meeting in Karlskrona - alongside the 2012 European Championships - 30 Member Association were present. Mr. Stellan Mohlin (Sweden) was elected as BEC Honorary Vice President and Mr. Frank Wilson (England) was awarded the BEC President's medal.

The 2012 European Championships took place in Karlskrona, Sweden. Germany's Marc Zwiebler won his first gold medal beating local Henri Hurskainen in the final. Tine Baun added her 2nd European title beating Juliane Schenk in Sunday's final. Denmark's Mathias Boe & Carsten Mogensen won their first European gold medal. And Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Zieba triumphed in the mixed doubles event and won the first ever European title for their country Poland. 

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At the 2013 Annual Delegates' Meeting in Bratislava (Slovakia) BEC President Poul-Erik Høyer (Denmark) was elected for another term.

For the first time a BEC Awards Gala took place alongside the ADM. The best European Players of the previous year were crowned.

Frank Wilson (England) was awarded with the President's medal while former BEC President Stellan Mohlin (Sweden) became a Honorary Vice President.

In May Poul-Erik Høyer stepped down as BEC President after be became President of the Badminton World Federation. Vice President Joao Matos (Portugal) served as Acting President since next year's ADM.

Further Council Meetings took place in January in Copenhagen (Denmark), June in Riga (Latvia) and in London (England) in September.

The 2013 European Junior Championships took place in Ankara, Turkey. Bulgaria's Stefani Stoeva was crowned two-time European Junior Champion.

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At the BEC Annual Delegates' Meeting in Dublin, Ireland Mr. Gregory Verpoorten(Belgium) was elected President. Vice President Alberto Miglietta (Italy) did not seek re-election. Mr. Murat Özmekik (Turkey) was elected new Vice President. Jean-Marc Sefaty (France) and Richard Vaughan (Ireland) were appointed as Director for Development and Communication.

Further Council Meetings took place in Nepals (Italy) in January, Amiens (France) in June, in Helsinki (Finland) in September. 

The 2014 INTERSPORT European Championships took place in Kazan, Russia where the Russian men's doubles Ivan Sozonov/Vladimir Ivanov won the first gold medal in this category for the host country. Denmark's Jan Ø. Jørgensen and Spaniard Carolina Marin took their first European titles while Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen and Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter-Juhl (both Denmark) won the mixed and women's doubles event.