History
Badminton Europe (BEC) was founded at Frankfurt am Main, in west Germany in September 1967, at a meeting of representatives from eleven national organisations. It was convened by the Deutscher Badminton Verband (DBV) on the suggestion of IBF, after the DBV had proposed that an official European Championships should be staged.
The eleven countries all became founder members of the EBU. They were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Finland, Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Both Scotland and Wales indicated their approval of the formation of the Union.
The first President of then called EBU was H.P. Kunz of Switzerland, with Stellan Mohlin of Sweden and Hermann Brohl of West Germany making up a small committee of three, responsible for general management. It was agreed to affiliate the Union as an international member of the IBF and to seek sanction or the first European Championships in West Germany in April, 1968.
From 11 members in 1967 Badminton Europe has grown to 52. From the early days development and creating European events have been key. When Stellan Mohlin took over the presidency in 1969, he recruited Emile ter Metz of the Netherlands as the first Honorary Secretary and also as Honorary Treasurer of the Union.
In close co-operation with Josef Benes of Czechoslovakia, ter Metz organised a system of reciprocity, which enabled players from Eastern Europe to play in the West without having to worry about hard currency restrictions. Eastern members from time to time hosted EBU events, and in this way, generally, paid back.
The first President of then called EBU was H.P. Kunz of Switzerland, with Stellan Mohlin of Sweden and Hermann Brohl of West Germany making up a small committee of three, responsible for general management. It was agreed to affiliate the Union as an international member of the IBF and to seek sanction or the first European Championships in West Germany in April, 1968.
From 11 members in 1967 Badminton Europe has grown to 52. From the early days development and creating European events have been key. When Stellan Mohlin took over the presidency in 1969, he recruited Emile ter Metz of the Netherlands as the first Honorary Secretary and also as Honorary Treasurer of the Union.
In close co-operation with Josef Benes of Czechoslovakia, ter Metz organised a system of reciprocity, which enabled players from Eastern Europe to play in the West without having to worry about hard currency restrictions. Eastern members from time to time hosted EBU events, and in this way, generally, paid back.
Former BEC Presidents
1967-1986
Hans Peter kunz
Switzerland
Mr. H. P. Kunz of Switzerland was elected as the first President of the then called European Badminton Union, and Stellan Mohlin from Sweden and H. Brohl from Germany were added to the small committee of three, to be responsible for the overall general management of affairs of the Union.
1969 - 1977
Stellan Mohlin
Subtitle
At the second Annual Delegates' Meeting in Voorburg, Netherlands, Mr. Stellan Mohlin from Sweden was elected as new President.
President Stellan Mohlin led EBU from the toddler stage into maturity and left the Union only to move to higher office (IBF). Stellan Mohlin is certainly one of the most important leaders international badminton has ever known.
President Stellan Mohlin led EBU from the toddler stage into maturity and left the Union only to move to higher office (IBF). Stellan Mohlin is certainly one of the most important leaders international badminton has ever known.
1977 - 1982
Herman Valken
Netherlands
Drs. Herman Valken (Netherlands) was elected President at the Annual Delegates' Meeting in Malta, following the retirement of Mr.Stellan Mohlin, who had been elected President of the International Badminton Federation in 1976.
1982 - 1984
Dr. Heinz Barge
Germany
At the 15th Annual Delegates' Meeting, held in Böblingen, Germany, at the occasion of the 8th European Championships, Dr. Heinz Barge was elected President. The German, who was also the President of the German Federation from 1976 to 1988, was running the then called European Badminton Union for two years. He died in February 2002.
1984 - 1992
Stan Mitchell
England
At the 17th Annual Delegates' Meeting in Preston, England with 20 Member Association being represented, Stan Mitchell from England was elected President. The Brite was leading the EBU for 8 years until Badminton became an Olympic sport at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
1992 - 2004
Torsten Berg
Denmark
At the 25th Annual Delegates' Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, the Dane Torsten Berg was elected President of the then called European Badminton Union. Berg is an experienced Referee at the highest international tournament level.He stepped down from his position in 2004, but is still an active Member and Official at the BWF and BEC.
2004 - 2010
Tom Bacher
Denmark
Mr. Tom Bacher, who is an former international top player, took over the presidency from his compatriot Mr. Torsten Berg in 2004 and led Badminton Europe until August 2010 when Poul-Erik Høyer took over at the BEC Annual Delegates's Meeting in Paris.
2010 - 2013
Poul-Erik Høyer
Denmark
Mr. Poul-Erik Høyer, who won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 Atlanta, took over the presidency from his compatriot Mr. Tom Bacher in 2010. Høyer resigned after a three years presidency because he was elected President of the Badminton World Federation BWF in May 2013.Vice-President Joao Matos took over to lead BEC as Acting President until BEC Annual Delegates' Meeting 2014.
2014 - 2019
Gregory Verpoorten
Belgium
Mr. Gregory Verpoorten was elected as the 9th Badminton Europe President at the BEC Annual Delegates’ Meeting in 2014 in Dublin, Ireland. He stood unopposed for the election.Verpoorten was the first Belgian in the history of Badminton Europe to take office. In June 2018 Verpoorten announced that he would not seek re-election at the BEC Annual Delegates’ Meeting in Kiev in 2019.
2019 - 2022
Peter Tarcala
Slovakia
Mr. Peter Tarcala was elected as the 10th Badminton Europe President at the BEC Annual Delegates' Meeting in 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. Mr. Tarcala was the first Slovak to be appointed BEC President. In August 2022 Mr. Tarcala stepped down as BEC president, one year before the end of his term due to personal reasons. BEC Vice-President, Joao Matos, was appointed as acting President and served in this position until the 2023 BEC Annual Delegates' Meeting which was held on 22 April 2023.
