Badminton England has confirmed that the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships will return to the BBC in March.

As part of the broadcaster’s recently announced commitment to show more sports across its digital platforms, the partnership will mean British sports fans will get a chance to see every day of the Championships live on the BBC’s online channels when the event returns to Birmingham from 14-18 March 2018.

The YONEX All England, one of only three top tier events on the new HSBC BWF World Tour, sees the very best badminton talent from all corners of the globe compete at the Arena Birmingham over five days.

The oldest and most prestigious tournament in world badminton draws a worldwide TV audience in excess of 221 million households and a global fan base that smashes through the 2.2 billion milestone each year.

Source: BadmintonPhoto

Chris and Gabby Adcock (Photo: BadmintonPhoto)

Last March, world class badminton returned to the BBC for the first time in 10 years as visitors to the BBC Sport website and red button digital audience almost witnessed history with England’s Chris and Gabby Adcock just missing out on a place in the YONEX All England final.

It was a feat the world top five pair repeated on the BBC five months later when they won bronze at the World Championships in Glasgow.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of the Championships’ organisers Badminton England said: “To have the BBC back on board broadcasting every day of the YONEX All England live is another significant milestone for our sport and one I am sure will play a significant part in inspiring even more than the 1 million adults who currently play badminton each month in England alone.

“We are in no doubt that there is demand from sports fans right across the UK to have access to a wider variety of sport online and on their TV screens – and live, world class badminton brings all the action, emotion and drama fans expect.

“Elite badminton in this country has just enjoyed one of the strongest medal-winning years in recent history with our players winning European and World medals in the past 12 months and our players will relish the opportunity to perform in front of the audience that the BBC brings; the viewing public can look forward to seeing a whole new era of fantastic role models”.

The 108th edition of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships takes place between 14-18 March 2018 at the Arena Birmingham.

For more information on the Championships and for tickets, visit: www.allenglandbadminton.com or #YAE18 @YONEXAllEngland

Report courtesy of Badminton England

Chris and Gabby Adcock (Photo: Badminton Photo)

With world class history and heritage dating back to 1898, the YONEX All England is already held in the highest esteem – as the oldest and one of the most prestigious badminton events in the world – by the world’s best players and fans.

It has been one of only five Premier events on the current World Superseries circuit but will see its position in the global badminton calendar escalated to even greater heights from next year after a successful bid by Badminton England.

Today’s announcement, made in Kuala Lumpur, sees the YONEX All England join world class tournaments in China and Indonesia at the very top of a brand new tournament structure that features six new tiers and an estimated 37 events annually up to 2021.

The news comes just two weeks after the 107^th edition of the YONEX All England saw record crowds sell out the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham – home of the Championships for the past 23 years.

The Championships also drew a worldwide television audience of over 168 million, including BBC broadcast in the UK for the first time in over 10 years.

Adrian Christy (CEO of Badminton England) Photo: Badminton Photo

Adrian Christy, CEO of event organisers Badminton England, said: “We are all thrilled that the YONEX All England will play such a leading role in the exciting journey for our sport that the BWF has announced on Sunday.

“I am so proud of the staff, the volunteers, court officials and incredible fans who make the YONEX All England such a special event.  I would also like to thank the many partners, particularly long standing title sponsors Yonex, without whom the hosting of these amazing Championships to the highest standard that we achieve year on year could not happen.

“The new world tour is going to be so exciting for the world of badminton and is a clear statement of the intent to further grow our great sport across the globe. It is an absolute privilege that Badminton England and the YONEX All England will be among those at the forefront.

“The jewel in Badminton England’s crown is now a jewel in the BWF’s new world tour and the UK can be proud that the YONEX All England will sit among the great sporting events in this country.”

The unveiling of a new tournament structure, with million-dollar prize money in its top four events – including the YONEX All England – has been called an ‘exciting wind of change’ by the Badminton World Federation.

BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said: “Our tournaments have grown in stature and appeal significantly in recent years and, with each cycle, we evaluate progress and assess how we can improve our events.”

“We have determined the time is right for badminton to soar even higher and our key goals are to showcase our sport at a high level of presentation and competitiveness, to increase television coverage for the sport and to increase the star quality and popularity of the top players globally through increased television coverage.”

Report courtesy of Badminton England

Lin Dan (Badminton Photo)

As one of only five Badminton World Federation World Superseries Premier events – the top-tier of global elite badminton – the YONEX All England is the oldest and most prestigious open badminton tournament in the world.

The championships feature the sport’s top 10 ranked players across all disciplines and entries from 32 countries and has a global TV audience of over 160 million households.

Lookers is a modern motor retailer who operate from over 160 franchise dealerships, representing 31 vehicle manufacturers and deliver over 200,000 vehicles a years to customers across the UK and Ireland.  The modern motor retailer will provide a fleet of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles to tournament organisers Badminton England for the duration of the tournament, running 7-12 March 2017.

The partnership is Lookers first relationship with the YONEX All England and the sport of badminton. In addition to the branded fleet of vehicles it sees the group enjoy courtside and big screen branding as the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham welcomes over 30,000 sports fans, families and VIPs during the week.

Chris and Gabby Adcock (Badminton Photo)

The Lookers brand will also be visible to a worldwide online audience through the event website – which enjoys over one million page views during Championship week – and streamed coverage in selected countries.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of event organisers Badminton England, said “I am delighted to welcome Lookers to the YONEX All England.

“Mobilising the global badminton family is an integral part of our world class event delivery in Birmingham and, with Lookers on board, we have a top class partner to make this happen.”

Andrew Pace, Head of Fleet Services for Lookers Group, said: “We are delighted to be supporting such a prestigious sporting event as the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships.

“Lookers has a history of supporting key sporting events here in the UK, both professional and at grass roots level, and we are always looking for opportunities to help promote sports that perhaps don’t get as much exposure as others.

“The Championships are perfect match for us; as well as being a fantastic showcase for national and indeed international athletic talent and prowess, badminton has always had an important part to play in local communities across the UK, reflecting our own position and values as a modern retailer.”

The YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships take place at the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham between 7-12 March 2017.

Report courtesy of Badminton England

The Championships, which sees Rio 2016 Olympic champions head a world class field at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, enjoy a global TV audience in excess of 169 million households.

Today’s exciting news will see, for the first time in ten years, a UK audience access live, free to air and online coverage from the second round stage  (Thursday 9 March) onward, culminating in the showpiece Finals Day on Sunday 12 March.

Last season, the BBC broadcast live the YONEX All England semi final featuring Team GB stars Chris and Gabby Adcock on the BBC red button service.
This season’s coverage will feature a minimum of 20 hours of live action, showcasing everything that the fastest racket sport on the planet has to offer at elite level.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of Championship organisers, Badminton England, said: “We are delighted that the BBC will broadcast the YONEX All England through their channels. We have a great relationship with the BBC and believe their huge reach to be completely compatible with the millions of people who play and support badminton, across such a wide and diverse demographic. It is a fantastic partnership.

“Given the recent news surrounding our world class funding, having the support of a world class broadcaster to the magnitude and standing of the BBC is another significant move forward for one of the nation’s most popular and participated sports.

“Our players regularly perform on the world stage in front of huge crowds and millions watching on TV in Asia and Europe and we want to bring that high level of profile to badminton here in the UK.  Having the BBC on board is essential in this mission.”

The YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships take place at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham between 7-12 March 2017 and features the sport’s biggest names from 32 countries.

Report courtesy of Badminton England

Tickets for the 107th Championships go on general sale today (15 July) giving fans the opportunity to watch the Olympic stars from Rio as well as the next generation of champions compete for badminton’s most prestigious title.

All the speed, drama and passion will be returning to Birmingham’s stunning Barclaycard Arena from 7-12 March, 2017.

The YONEX All England is the oldest tournament in world badminton and is one of the five ‘majors’ of the sport – a MetLife BWF World Superseries Premier event.

Our home ‘grand slam’ is considered the most prestigious – the jewel in the crown of the international badminton calendar.

China’s double Olympic champion Lin Dan will be hoping to build on his six YONEX All England men’s singles titles, knowing he will have to again be at his best if he is to defeat the likes of fellow countrymen Chen Long and Tian Houwei, Malaysia’s former champion Lee Chong Wei and England’s number one and Rio-bound Rajiv Ouseph.

World Superseries Finals winners Chris and Gabby Adcock will again go in search of England’s first YONEX All England crown since 2005 having reached their first semi-finals last time out, while unseeded players will be looking to emulate Russians Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov who shocked badminton fans worldwide by claiming the men’s doubles crown in 2016.

The event is celebrating its 34th successive year of title sponsorship with global sports brand Yonex, making it one of the longest-standing partnerships in global sporting history.

Tickets are on general sale now and start from £5 for a child ticket and £15 for an adult ticket, with discounts available for concessions and group bookings – a great day out for all the family.

For more information and to buy tickets click here.

Report courtesy of Badminton England

Eurosport’s agreement with Badminton England will allow British and Irish fans the chance to watch the current world champions Carolina Marin of Spain and Chen Long of China, as well as home favourites and BWF Superseries Finals winners Chris and Gabby Adcock.

Scotland star Kirsty Gilmour and Ireland’s Chloe Magee will also be competing at the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament, which is held at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena from 8-13 March.

David Kerr, Managing Director of Eurosport in the UK and Ireland said: “We know badminton enjoys great support in the UK and covering the YONEX All England Championships is a great opportunity to fuel the passion of British and Irish badminton fans and give those who cannot make it to Birmingham an opportunity to see the best players in the world at the sport’s oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament.

“It also means we can add yet another hugely popular Olympic sport to the likes of athletics, swimming and rowing on the channel in 2016 and beyond.”

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of Badminton England said: “We are delighted that Eurosport will be the official broadcaster of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships for 2016.

“The YONEX All England is one of only five BWF Superseries Premier events in the year and very much the jewel in our crown, so we are thrilled that fans across the UK and Ireland will be able watch the world’s best badminton players compete.

“Eurosport have an excellent track record of presenting top class sport to a worldwide audience and the agreement means that fans can enjoy watching the players who will be winning medals at the Olympics in Rio later this year.”

Eurosport is available in the UK and Ireland on Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV. Viewers can also subscribe directly through the Eurosport Player and watch on numerous devices including smartphones, tablets and connected TVs. You can subscribe to Eurosport Player here.

The full broadcast schedule can be found here.

You can see full details of YONEX All England here.

Report courtesy of Badminton England