Peter Ganes passed away Tuesday 29th May at the age of 57 after nine months of severe illness. Badminton Europe remembers the umpire and umpire assessor for his humour, his talent, his dedication and his good heart.
Ganes started umpiring in 1983 and quickly climbed the latter of umpire positions in both Denmark and Europe. He had obvious talent and he became a BWF Certificated Umpire in 1995 which is the highest grade an umpire can achieve in the badminton world.
He retired from the umpire chair in 2006, and major points in his career was umpiring Olympic finals in Sydney in the year of 2000 and in Athens four years later.
The personal qualities of Peter Ganes as an umpire and his ability to train and assess umpires was also noticed outside of Denmark. He has been a BEC Umpire Assessor since BEC started formal assessments and was also a BWF Umpire Assessor for several years until 2015.
- We have lost a great friend, and a true badminton-lover. Peter has given so much to the game, and in the later years to the umpire education in Europe, where his clear ambition was to educate European umpires to be “the best in the world”, says BEC Senior Manager Jimmy Andersen.
- After doing his final onsite job for BEC in June 2017, in Milan, he spent considerable time establishing our new education strategy together with us here in the office. We will surely miss Peter’s great knowledge and his dedication – but first of all his great sense of humour and good mood. Peter is irreplaceable – and people who knew Peter well, know that.
Earlier this year, Ganes was awarded with BWF’s Meritorious Service Award, which is presented to honour exemplary service to badminton at the national level.
Torsten Berg, honorary BEC President, wrote the following about Ganes when he received the BWF award in March 2018:
- While it is well known that Danish players are among the best in world, it may not be quite as widely acknowledged that Danish umpires equally have been recognized as among the very best. From Paul Frimodt and Villy Larsen, over Preben Nøies and Peter Ganes to those who serve the top tournaments today. It is to a large degree thanks to Peter Ganes' talent as a teacher and mentor that there will be Danish umpires in the chair in top badminton for many years to come.
Everyone from Badminton Europe sends their most sincere condolences to Peter Ganes’ family and friends.