BWF PRESS RELEASE
Monday 28 February 2022
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) issued a statement today following a BWF Council meeting condemning Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and expressing concern over the civilians affected in the conflict.
The BWF is of the strong belief that any conflict should be resolved without the use of violence of any kind and expresses faith in the sports movement’s contribution towards peace and solidarity between all people. BWF is profoundly concerned for the safety of the people of Ukraine, and the Ukraine badminton community including players, coaches, and officials.
The BWF fully supports the public statement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board and expresses its disappointment and strong condemnation of the breach by the governments of Russia and Belarus of the UN General Assembly’s Olympic Truce. BWF stands in full solidarity with the entire international sports movement to call on all parties to stop acts of violence and to restore peace.
Subsequently, BWF moved to agree on the following concrete measures:
- All BWF sanctioned tournaments in Russia and Belarus are hereby cancelled. No other BWF tournaments will be allocated to Russia or Belarus until further notice.
- The Russian and Belarusiannational flags must not be displayed, and the Russian and Belarusian national anthems must not be played, at any BWF sanctioned tournaments until further notice.
- BWF will communicate its deepest sympathies and concerns to the Ukraine Badminton Association and will coordinate special support to the Ukraine badminton community where possible.
BWF will continue to monitor the situation closely and will proactively consult our international sport movement partners to discuss other options to potentially strengthen measures against the governments of Russia and Belarus.
Updated 1 March 2022: BWF STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO IOC EB RECOMMENDATIONS
Following consultation with international sport movement partners overnight, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has updated its position regarding Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
BWF has strengthened its measures against the governments of Russia and Belarus by suspending athletes and officials representing these countries from participating at any BWF-sanctioned international tournaments until further notice.
This is in line with new recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board released Monday aimed at preserving the integrity of competitions and ensuring the safety of all athletes. It also supports a united and coordinated approach within the sports movement in handing down sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
BWF already moved to cancel all BWF-sanctioned tournaments in Russia and Belarus effective immediately. The enforced non-participation of badminton athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus commences at the YONEX GAINWARD German Open 2022 (8-13 March).
A small number of Russian athletes competing in two back-to-back international Para badminton tournaments in Spain in Weeks 9 and 10 of the calendar will be allowed to participate as they have already arrived on location. This is on the premise that it is not possible on short notice to enforce the suspension of players due to organisational reasons as per the IOC EB’s latest resolution. These players, however, will compete as neutral athletes, with no national flags or anthems.
BWF remains committed to supporting the people of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian badminton community, as part of the sports movement’s mission to promote peace and solidarity between all people.
