General

The President’s 2020 recap
Date: 12/30/2020 9:01 AM
Published by : Rasmus Bech(BEC)

It is time to look back at 2020. A year that everybody will remember for the rest of their lives.

- Everybody knows it has been a different year, and nobody expected it would be as it was.

The words are from Badminton Europe President, Peter Tarcala, who of course has been following not just the COVID-19 situation but also the situation around international badminton throughout 2020.


Many challenges
In 2020, activities, events and tournaments have been cancelled and postponed, and the president does not hesitate to answer when asked about the biggest challenge in 2020 for European badminton.

- Definitely, there have been many challenges. The cancellations of the tournaments have been the biggest challenge, as far as I see it. It was very difficult, not only for the players but also for our fans, spectators, partners, organisers and of course also for us in Badminton Europe, Tarcala stated.

- We learnt that cooperation is extremely important. We all stayed together and supported each other much more, and we also learnt to respect each other even more. We have to respect the new conditions and to respect the new situation and to adapt to it.

Virtual ADM
On the political scene, the BEC Congress including the Member’s Forum, the Annual Delegates’ Meeting (ADM) and the BEC Gala Evening should have taken place in Bucharest, Romania, but for the very first time, the ADM was organised as a virtual ADM.


- It was a strange feeling first of all to postpone the ADM, which we hoped could be organised together with the postponed Thomas & Uber Cup finals in Denmark.

- Then we postponed again to October, but the final decision was to organise a virtual ADM. It was historic, not only for me but for Badminton Europe, the president stated.

Happy to get badminton back
A lot of changes have been made along the way in 2020, and looking back at the 12 previous months, Peter Tarcala is pleased that European badminton got badminton back on the international stage in late summer and early autumn.

- The adaption of Badminton Europe was relatively good. It was not easy because of local restrictions and government instructions, but I am really happy that we could organise the European Junior Championships in Finland in October, which was a huge success. To be honest, I was a bit pessimistic that it would not be such a success because of the possibility for positive tests and more countries not participating, but with the numbers we reached, I am really happy and proud.


- I am also really satisfied that we could play four groups of qualification for the 2021 European Mixed Team Championships. We had 17 countries competing for four spots and that is good. I am very thankful to the organisers in the four countries hosting the qualification events, and I am happy for the players that they got the chance to play one final time in 2020, Tarcala mentioned.

Welcome 2021
2020 was indeed a virtual year. Not just for Badminton Europe and it’s president but for everyone being part of a different year, which we for sure will all remember. Virtual meetings, social distance and masks have been part of the 2020 story, but Peter Tarcala hopes to see everything getting closer to normal in 2021.

About the major events the president said:

- I believe that we are all looking forward to the Olympic Games and to see if they are taking place or not. Hopefully, this will be the biggest sports event in 2021. I also hope to see the international badminton calendar being started and to see our major events taking place. We have a lot of great events (European Mixed Team Championships, European Championships, European Senior Championships, European Club Championships and European U17 Championships) in 2021 and look forward to hopefully see these events taking place.

Peter Tarcala also hopes to meet familiar faces and good colleagues in Kyiv in April for the BEC Congress and the European Championships:

- We have been in Kyiv last year, which was a fantastic congress, and for the first time we will combine our BEC Congress with the European Championships, so I just pray to that this will be a reality.

Happy New Year
2020 will never be forgotten. The first full year as president is in the books for Peter Tarcala, who on behalf of Badminton Europe has one last statement from the unique year:

- Happy New Year to all badminton fans in Europe and around the world.

- Let’s hope that 2021 will be much better and more successful for all of us.


©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

Related news
27/03/2024
EOC Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul
The European Olympic Committee...

27/03/2024
Madrid Spain Masters day 2: Victories, upsets, and excitement on court.
French siblings sweep to victo...

26/03/2024
A first action-packed day unfolds at the Spain Masters
The Madrid Spain Masters 2024 ...

26/03/2024
Spain Masters begins today with an unexpected withdrawal!
Madrid is buzzing with excitem...

25/03/2024
Lane/ Vendy and Marin, victorious at Swiss Open
The Swiss Open concluded this ...

24/03/2024
Marin and Lane/Vendy secure finalist spots at the Swiss Open
The semifinals have concluded ...

More news