The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has confirmed that the 2017 World Championships will take place at Glasgow's Emirates Arena. A Scottish partnership involving BADMINTONscotland, Glasgow Life and EventScotland was awarded the event at the BWF Council meeting in the Peruvian capital of Lima earlier today.
 
The most prestigious tournament in badminton, the World Championships is the latest major event to be secured for Scotland as a legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and will provide a major platform for the ongoing development of the sport in the coming years.
 
Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of BADMINTONscotland, said "The return of the World Championships to Scotland is a major coup for BADMINTONscotland and our partners, Glasgow City Council and EventScotland.
 
"We had put together a superb bid for the Sudirman Cup and our presentation was extremely well received, even though we narrowly lost out to Australia. There is little doubt that the quality of our bid played a significant part in the decision to award these Championships to us.
 
"There is a very pleasing symmetry to this announcement, when one recalls that we staged both the Sudirman Cup and the Individual Championships in 1997 and the Sudirman Cup again in 2007. Having the Individual Championships in 2017 will complete another ten year cycle of bringing the most prestigious badminton events to Scotland.
 
"The BWF is well aware of the strength of our partnership with Glasgow City Council and with EventScotland and they know from our track record that we will provide a world class setting and world class organisation for the world's top players.
 
"Securing this event will also provide a huge incentive for our fantastic volunteer team, many of whom were involved in this summer's Commonwealth Games and will be on duty again next week at the Emirates Arena for the Scottish Open Grand Prix."
 
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "This is fantastic news for Glasgow. Hosting the World Individual Badminton Championships is a brilliant opportunity to reaffirm our position as one of the top sporting cities in the world. It also provides the perfect platform to build on the success of what has been an outstanding summer of sport for Glasgow following the best ever Commonwealth Games.
 
"Alongside its ever growing portfolio of major events and its world-class sporting facilities, such as the Emirates Arena, Glasgow also offers a wide range of fantastic hotels and restaurants to suit the needs of the visiting players and the many fans who will inevitably follow. We can't wait to welcome them to our friendly city during the summer of 2017."
 
Commonwealth Games and Sport Secretary Shona Robison said: "The Badminton World Championships is the most prestigious title in badminton and now joins a host of world class sporting events being held in Glasgow 2014 venues in the coming years, building on the Games sporting legacy. This is the latest event secured by EventScotland and its partners, which highlights the capacity, capability and credibility Scotland has as an events destination.
 
"Scotland is the perfect stage for major events thanks to world class facilities and the uniquely warm welcome we can offer and badminton fans can look forward to a great tournament."
 
The news couldn't be more timely with just five days to go to the Scottish Open Grand Prix at Glasgow's Emirates Arena and Ms Smillie added: "Of course, the players have another chance to impress next week with the Scottish Open Grand Prix at the Emirates Arena just five days away. It will give our players and all the tournament volunteers who work so hard at our events a real boost."

Article by Peter Dean. Photo by BadmintonPhoto.