Denmark is going to host three big badminton events when the international world class badminton calendar restarts. Besides the fact that Denmark is going to host the World Championships for men’s and women’s national teams, TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup, and DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR, Badminton Denmark has also been given the task to host another major badminton event.
Since March where the All England was played, in which Viktor Axelsen came out victorious in the men’s singles category, the international badminton calendar has been cleared due to the COVID-19 situation. But from October 3 to October 25, there will once again be badminton tournaments and championships to look forward to. But in a whole new way and on Danish soil.
The TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup will be held as scheduled from October 3 to October 11 in Aarhus, Denmark. The World Championships will then be followed up by the World Tour Super 750 tournament DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR in Odense, Denmark, which will take place from October 13-18. In the following week from October 20-25, the city of Odense will be hosting another big international tournament as the Super 750 tournament French Open will be moved to Denmark and hosted as Denmark Open II.
This is due to the fact that by Denmark hosting all three events, the players and their teams do not have to cross more borders than necessary, but also because the Badminton World Federation, BWF, considers Denmark to be able to host all three events safely.
- We are very pleased about the fact, that Denmark is going to be the place where international world class badminton restarts after the COVID-19. It is history. It is huge that we are going to host both the Thomas & Uber Cup in Aarhus and two times Denmark Open in Odense. We have been working for a long time to create guidelines and recommendations together with the authorities, BWF, and our partners so that we could be able to host these three big events healthily and responsibly. We are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of infection for the players, audience, judges, volunteers, and others involved, Bo Jensen, Director of Badminton Denmark says.
Some of those initiatives that will help minimize the risk of infection will be by making different color zones so that different groups will be separated the most. Badminton Denmark will also make area divisions for the audience, unidirectional walkways, place sanitizer everywhere as well as making temperature scannings before entering the hall.
Furthermore, everyone in the green color zone will (players, judges, officials, tournament management, etc.) be COVID-19 tested continuously throughout the three weeks. Badminton Denmark collaborates with KMD for the purpose and has also bought test kits and two machines for test development, which will make us able to test key stakeholders and get the result within 20 minutes.
In addition to this, general recommendations from the authorities and guidelines will be complied with. All audience will before these events receive practical information about this. For example, concerning toilet facilities, purchase of food, traffic information, and recommendations concerning face masks and use of a mobile application to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus.
- We have been given a unique and historical opportunity to become the first European country to host the Thomas & Uber Cup and to hold two World Tour tournaments in a row. It will take a huge effort from my staff to lift this task. It is a task that we are very humble towards and we wish to do our absolute best to solve it at the highest level as possible so that our audience can feel safe at these events. Therefore, we introduce several initiatives, which will help all of us to enjoy world-class badminton, Bo Jensen says.
BWF's Secretary General, Thomas Lund, is pleased about the fact that months of work soon will give us three great events at respectively Ceres Park & Arena, Aarhus, and Odense Idrætshal, Odense.
- Managing travel logistics between different territories where different entry and safety restrictions apply have been the biggest challenge. Therefore, an adjusted tournament calendar was developed. We look forward to the return of international world class badminton and we thank all parties and participants involved in the planning process, Thomas Lund says.
Exactly how many spectators which will be able to watch the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup and DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR-tournaments depends on the political negotiations, which are going on these days. Badminton Denmark will send out more information this when the political parties have a conclusion.
Facts:
TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup
TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup will be played at Ceres Park & Arena, Aarhus, October 3-11, 2020.
Denmark is the first country in Europe that will host the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup finals.
Denmark has also hosted the individual World Championships in 2014, 1999, 1991, and 1983 as well as Sudirman Cup, World Championships for mixed teams, in 1991, and 1999.
The Danish men’s national team won the Thomas Cup in 2016 as the first European nation. The men’s team won bronze medals at the World Championships for men’s teams in Thailand, 2018.
The Danish women’s national team has never won the Uber Cup but finished second in 1957, 1960, and 2000.
DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR
DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR will be played in Odense Idrætshal, Odense, October 13-18, 2020.
The tournament is categorized as World Tour Super 750-tournament and thereby amongst the eight biggest tournaments. Only surpassed by Super 1000-tournaments: All England, China Open and Indonesia Open.
The prize money for the tournament is 750.000 American Dollars.
Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen are the only Danes to have won the tournament back in 2016.
Denmark Open II
Denmark Open II will be played in Odense Idrætshal, Odense, October 20-25, 2020.
The tournament is categorized as World Tour Super 750-tournament and thereby amongst the eight biggest tournaments. Only surpassed by Super 1000-tournaments: All England, China Open and Indonesia Open.
It is the first time ever that two World Tour-tournaments will be held in the same country in a row.
The prize money for the tournament is 750.000 American Dollars.
Together with the Thomas & Uber Cup-sponsors, TOTAL (title sponsor), HSBC, Yonex, Moutai, GoDaddy, Alps, Danisa, and Mille Food as well as the championship partners BWF, Aarhus Kommune, Sport Event Denmark, Salling Fondene and ViaBiler we are looking forward to welcoming you at the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup in Ceres Arena, Aarhus, October 3-11, 2020.
Just as well we and our sponsors DANISA (titelsponsor), HSBC (World Tour-sponsor), VICTOR, Mille Food, Destination Fyn and Holstebro Rejsecenter as well as our partners BWF, Total, Odense Kommune, Scandic, Midtfyns Bryghus, Thaisen Hus, Philipson Vine, Nespresso and TV 2 SPORT are looking forward to welcoming you at the DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR from October 13-18 in Odense Idrætshal.