Applications are open for the 2021 BEC Para Badminton Event that will be taking place in Estonia.

All Member Associations are invited to apply to participate in the 2021 Para Badminton Event that will take place from the 27 to the 29 August in Tallinn, Estonia. After last year’s Para Event in Caldas, Portugal, Badminton Europe is looking forward to yet another successful edition.

In 2020, BEC and the Portuguese Badminton Federation moved quickly after a tough year due to COVID-19 to organise the event. This year, it was Estonia’s turn, and the cooperation between BEC and the Estonian Badminton Federation has been fruitful.

The location will be Badminton Estonia’s badminton hall, a centre of state-of-the-art facilities that provides players a high-quality environment to develop their skills and enjoy an optimal training place. The event consists of items from the BWF Coaches Manual – Module 13 (Coaching Players with Disabilities) and an Administrator ́s course to help administrators kick start Para badminton in their countries. 

The cooperation between Badminton Europe and Member Associations has always been at the heart of the essential initiatives of Europe. The Para Event has taken place in different spots of the continent, and Badminton Estonia president Ulla Helm highlights the importance of their country being this year’s host.

-Regretfully, Para badminton has not got the publicity in Estonia as it deserves, so I am really happy we have this amazing opportunity to do this now. We are really looking forward to welcoming more Para badminton players to this sport in Estonia. Badminton is for everyone, Helm said.

It is thanks to events like this that our sport becomes more accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it. This is not only a great opportunity for the hosts, but also for all participants that will be benefitting from an incredibly enriching experience. 

Through this event, Para badminton coaches — no matter if current or new into the discipline — will get to benefit from assistance, guidance, and deep knowledge on the BWF/BEC coaching system. Similarly, administrators will be provided with all the information needed to be able to implement Para badminton in their own countries.

There is still work to be done in the field of Para badminton in Europe, and this is a great way to advance by getting together and providing the means for developing it. Kathy-Karmen Kale, Sport Coordinator from Badminton Estonia, is looking forward to hosting such a meaningful event in her country.

-Hosting the Para event is really important for Badminton Estonia. Right now, there are no Para badminton training groups in Estonia and we feel that it needs to change. Badminton should be a sport for everyone regardless of their specificities and hosting the Para event will be the perfect start for that. Events like these will raise interest among players and coaches, Kale explained.

The BEC Para Events are so much more than skills training. It is also about bringing people together in a like-minded environment, an occasion to meet people from all over Europe, to establish meaningful connections and even inspire to strive for more in the future, just like Badminton Estonia’s future projects with Para badminton demonstrates.

-We are also planning our own Para badminton coach education event right along BEC event, to train our coaches and start the first Para badminton group in September, Kale said.

Badminton Europe will be supporting participants with a travel grant, as well as providing them with accommodation and meals during the whole official duration of the event. Please check the specific details and the prerequisites for participants on the invitation letter.

Due to the current situation around COVID-19, we strongly emphasise that you do not purchase your flight tickets until you receive a confirmation email from BEC regarding your application to participate. Despite the unpredictable situation, we still encourage you to send in your application(s).

All applications should be sent to us by the Member or BEC recognised Para organisation. Please complete and send the application form latest by Wednesday, 23 June 2021.

We encourage gender balance in the application to participate. BEC will review the applications and will confirm the participation via the entering body. Only participants who are confirmed by BEC will attend the event.

If you require any further information please contact Justine Cammal, BEC Development and High Performance Officer at the Badminton Europe office at justine.cammal@badmintoneurope.com