In 2012, in addition to several other development areas, Badminton Europe will be focusing on promoting women in the sport of badminton. With significantly more men in leading positions, or as officials, or as coaches, a few projects related to women in badminton will be running over the next 12 and 24 months, recurring and new ones.

As in 2010, when the first Women in Badminton working group made of 12 women was created, a second group will be selected this year. Six women will be chosen from nominations sent by each Member Association, knowing that previous members can be selected again. The new members will be involved for a new period of two years.

The group will meet for the first time in Karlskrona, Sweden in April during its 2012 Badminton Europe Women’s Forum. The aim of the meeting will be to identity current difficulties women face in badminton in terms of involvement and how to overcome those by producing an action list for the two years to come.

The deadline for applications to be selected as working group members is 20 March.

One of the new initiatives Badminton Europe took in 2012 is to reward those who help promoting women in badminton. Two different awards will be given during Badminton Europe’s ADM: the Person of the Year award and the Project of the Year award. The former recognises a man or a woman who made a difference for women in badminton, while the later acknowledges the work done for women in badminton through a project.

Each Member Association can nominate one person and one project; the deadline being 15 March.

For more information on Women in Badminton, click here.