The 2021 European Championships came to a close yesterday and Badminton Europe sends its congratulations and thanks to Ukraine for an event that will certainly live long in the memory.
The 28th edition of the European Championships was destined to be a special tournament, being played during unique times and in Ukraine for the first time. Brian Agerbak, General Secretary of Badminton Europe summed up his thoughts on the week.
-It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster. We started off with some positive cases. That was tough but we managed to get over that and start the tournament. I think the organisation here has been outstanding with a beautiful setup. And of course, then when we came to the final day, suddenly, we had a few more cases which meant that we lost two finals.
For the three finals that we did have on Sunday, there was a great show for the fans watching at home. Players stepping up onto the highest level on the podium received their gold medals in a creative socially distanced way. Drones carrying the medals flew towards the players for them to proudly pick up.
-The finals have been absolutely amazing. The presentation has been great. I am super impressed, and I am happy that we have this one in the bank now.
Nothing is impossible
Throughout the early stages of the championships, players noted ‘bubbles’ in the court. These were caused by imperfections in the floor underneath, a common challenge when laying down competition floors. A decision was made to rip up the floors and lay down a new floor before semifinals day.
-First of all, I did not think it would be possible. That’s a big operation. Where do you find a wooden floor on a Friday night and do we have the time to even change it? The fact that the Ukrainian Federation were able to do that successfully is absolutely amazing. For the last two days, we played on a fantastic floor and I am very happy about that, Brian Agerbak stated.
Unforgettable
The General Secretary also spoke about how despite the bumps in the road, the journey was one that caught the imagination of the badminton world.
-This European Championships I will never forget. It will stand out for the years to come. We are still in a corona year, there were lots of restrictions and of course, with all the ups and downs, positive tests, but we saw the European Champions crowned in Kyiv.
The 2021 European Championships was a world-class spectacle.
-The presentation has been outstanding, maybe the best I have ever seen. Even considering the Olympic Games or World Championships, I do not think we see a better one, so I am super impressed with the event and grateful to the Ukrainian Federation for putting on a show for the whole European badminton community.
Positive cases
The 2021 European Championships had strict regulations upon entry into the ‘green bubble’. Following the initial positive cases within the Danish team, the competition followed a very strict protocol all week and increased the number of tests during the week to ensure that we can keep the bubble safe. However, two more cases popped up during semifinals day.
-That is not explainable, I do not have any reasons for that. Of course, I assume that everybody followed protocol. No breach of protocols has been registered, so it is a mystery. I am not sure we will find out. I feel for the people affected, but this happens in a pandemic year, we cannot completely ensure that these things do not happen. We dealt with it the best way we can, and now the championships are over.
Over 1200 tests have been conducted throughout the week. The overall feeling is that with the sheer number of athletes and staff involved in making the event happen, we have had a few cases.
-Coming here, I did expect a few cases at a tournament like this in the middle of a pandemic. We had hoped that we are past the worst, and it was a big shock that we had some of our biggest stars hit by the coronavirus.
Worth it
Being able to organise such a huge event during these times is no mean feat. Replying to the question if it has all been worth it, Brian Agerbak responded.
-I think so. It is really important for our sport to show that we are alive and kicking and that we can still organise major events like this week in Kyiv. So, for me, it has all been worth it. However, I do have a lot of empathy and sympathy for the athletes and the entourage that have been hit by the virus this week.
The show went on and Ukraine delivered.
-I will remember the presentation. I had goosebumps when the screens went up and saw the players marching in. I will also remember how we dealt with the coronavirus challenges, all the protocols and restrictions. All in all, a fantastic week in Kyiv and I am really happy.
Дякую!