The fourth meeting of the Project Coordination Group for Erasmus+ Sport 2018 – 2020 B4ALL (Badminton for All) was held this year in mid-November in Helsinki, Finland, with thirteen attendees. The aim is to develop an inclusive badminton network that creates a unique social structure without distinctions between players with and without disabilities.
The Finnish Para badminton association (VammaisSulkaPallo ry) were hosts and also organise three to four tournaments yearly, with the support of the Badminton Finland Federation. Following the meeting, there was a Para badminton tournament that took place for the fourth time since 2016. The tournament was held at a sports hall made for the 1952 Olympics which has had many purposes over the years. Today it is a popular training facility for many sports, including badminton.
Kimmo Sirviö, Chairman of the Para badminton association and member of the Badminton Finland Para-badminton workgroup speaks about the event.
-There have always been lots of participants at Helsinki, locals and from abroad. Participants came from Russia, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. Also, in attendance were 12 standing players and 12 wheelchair players, all with different kinds of disabilities.
- It is important to have different kinds of disabilities participating. Perhaps in the future, we will have non-disability players there too. This year’s tournament went very well. There was a good atmosphere, and everybody had fun, he added
The next tournament will be upcoming in January at Kankaanpää, which is 300 kilometres from Helsinki. The next B4ALL meeting on the calendar is scheduled for Madrid, Spain in January.
For more information about the B4ALL meetings, click
here.