Attending the meetings were all the BEC Board of Directors, with exception of Nanna Vainio, chair of Athletes’ Commission, who was represented by another athletes’ commission member, Ernesto Velazquez. Furthermore, BEC staff was present to take part in the commission meetings they are assigned to. 

Friday evening, special guests was invited to a dinner event at the Admiral Hotel Copenhagen, amongst the BEC Board, Commissions, and staff, were BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, Badminton Denmark Chief Executive and President; Bo Jensen and René Toft. Former BEC Presidents Torsten Berg and Tom Bacher joined the rest of the company for dinner, as well.

"Four Presidents" (from left): Former BEC President Torsten Berg, BWF President and former BEC President Poul-Erik Høyer, current BEC President Gregory Verpoorten, and former BEC President Tom Bacher.

Special attention was brought to the High Performance-commission, which had a very important decision on the agenda. The BEC Centre of Excellence is planned to start from September 2017, and last Saturday, five potential hosts presented their bids to the board. The bidders consisted of representatives from Dublin (Ireland), Derby (England), Vilnius (Lithuania), Holbæk and Vejen (Denmark).

The final decision was made at the Board meeting Sunday, and as soon as both sides have agreed to the final details, Badminton Europe will make the announcement public on our website. 

Gregory Verpoorten, President of BEC, said of the recent meetings in Copenhagen: “We had some great commission meetings over the last couple of days. One of the highlights was the High Performance-commission discussion on where we would start up our BEC Center of Excellence, a project very close to my heart, on which we made great progress and where the bids from our MA’s and their partners well exceeded my expectations.

During our Board of Directors and commission meetings, I am full on in meetings from the moment I arrive until I depart. But it is at meetings like these where we add to the growth of badminton in Europe, and I am very proud of the work that all of the commission members put into these meetings.”

The Board of Directors will meet again at the BEC Congress for the Annual Delegates Meeting in Prague, April 1st.

The Commissions and their members has the next gathering later during the year in September, where the Board will join them as well. 

Learn more about the 50th Anniversary of Badminton Europe by clicking here.