The first ever BEC Shadow Programme has been organized in connection with the 2017 European U17 Championships in Prague, Czech Republic from 21-29 November 2017.
10-day event allowed Badminton Europe to give the opportunity to two different Member Associations, Portugal and Estonia to benefit from the programme.
The main goal of the Shadow Programme is to help the participants to gain direct experience during the preparation and delivery of BEC Major Events and/or the organisation and administration of badminton specific courses or activities at a European level.
- I think it was very important to assess the needs of the participants before their arrival to Prague, in order to design an individual programme to both of them, which was specific to their needs and the areas they required to develop, says Zsofia Horvath.
Ricardo Oliveira from Portugal
During the team championships, it was Ricardo Oliveira from Portugal, who followed Zsofia Horvath, BEC Manager, carrying out her duties at the event in Prague. Having already arrived on 19 November, Ricardo was involved in the final preparations of building up the venue.
He also attended the team managers' meeting and the umpires briefing to get a better insight of how these meetings are organized. Ricardo has been interested in learning about scheduling of an event as well as the details on how to ensure quality presentation of the venue.
- Being with the Badminton Europe team, organizing a European Championship made me have a knowledge of a different reality, learning different logistical methodologies, working with the teams, players, referees, referees, line judges, employees and all those involved, he said.
Siiri Rajamägi from Estonia
Siiri Rajamägi was the second participant and she was involved with the individual event of the U17 Championship. Siiri travelled to Prague hoping to gain experience in organizing a European Championship, as she will be involved in the organization of the 2018 European Junior Championships in Tallin.
- This was definitely an experience I haven’t had before. In Estonia, I am one of the main organizers of Estonian International, but it was the first time to see how the title competition is organized by another country and to see it from “back stage”, Rajamägi tells.
- I really hope that both participants will be able to transfer the skills and knowledge they developed during the Shadow Programme to their own events, both on a national and international level, added Horvath.
Learn more about the BASIS Programme by clicking
here.