PARIS, September 18, 2024 - The badminton events – both during the Olympic and the Paralympic Games were a huge success on many fronts. For the audience – almost all sessions were sold out and London’s record was merely beaten with more than 12 million tickets sold for all sports – but also in terms of atmosphere and excitement on the courts.
Thomas Bach, in his farewell speech, mentioned that the French public had won his heart and that Paris had organised fantastic Games. Exciting. Sustainable. In the heart of the city with iconic venues.
LA CHAPELLE ARENA The Badminton competitions took place at La Chapelle Arena, in the northern part of the City of Light. Ten days of competition for the Olympics, then again, a few weeks later, 5 days for the Paralympics. If the test event in March had seen a decent number of spectators, nothing beats the crowd that came from all over the world at the end of July to see the world’s best fight for the gold medals. It had been 8 years since regular spectators were last welcomed in an Olympic competition venue – since Tokyo was held under closed doors because of Covid. With up to three sessions a day,the venue was filled with close to 6000 spectators each time.
SPORTSMANSHIP Badminton was one of the highlights of the Games, with its share of good moments and drama. Spanish Queen Carolina Marin was forced to withdraw in the women’s singles event after a heart-breaking injury as she was winning her semi-final against China’s He Bingjiao. The latter carried a Spanish flag lapel pin with her on the podium a few days later – a gesture that was praised all around the world, as was the wedding proposal from Chinese star Liu Yuchen to his girlfriend Huang Huaqiong right after she had scooped the gold medal in the mixed doubles event. While no French athlete won a medal in any of the five categories, the local fans cheered loudly for the only European who got a gold medal – Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, three years after his success in Tokyo, proved too strong for Thai youngster Kunlavut Vitidsarn. In the women’s singles, in the absence of Marin, it was Korea’s An Se Young, as expected, who came out on top with her wonderful touch. She beat China’s He Bingjiao in the final. The men’s doubles was a repeat of Tokyo as well, when Lee yang and Wang Chi-Lin surprised everyone by scooping a second straight title. The duo from Chinese Taipei had not even won one event during the year and were not considered as favourites. China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan provided China with a second gold medal in the women's doubles.
PARALYMPIC HEROES The crowd was back three weeks after this first act for the Paralympic Games. And once again, sessions were sold out for the five days of competition – this time mostly French spectators who were willing to feel the joyful spirit and see the venues that were full during the Olympics. Good news for the locals – this time, the French athletes put on a show, with two gold medals and a bronze. Lucas Mazur, once again as he did in Tokyo, scooped the SL4 title, while he and partner Faustine Noël won bronze in mixed doubles. But the man who won French hearts and became a legend is Charles Noakes, playing in the short stature category (SH6), he beat his best friend on the tour, England’s Krysten Coombs, in an epic final. Noakes was then invited to many TV shows, and was one of the five athletes to extinguish the Olympic Flame during yet another wonderful and original celebration created by the organisers, ending a summer of emotions in the French capital. As many hours were broadcast on National TV, the Host broadcasters France Television also promised that more Paralympic sports would be aired in the months to come.
WORLD BADMINTON TOUR The World Badminton Tour has since resumed, with events in Hong Kong and China mainland held in September, before a leg in Europe and the Year-end finale, to be hosted by Hangzhou, China, once again, mid-December. The eight best players in each category will fight for a global 2.5 million dollar prize money.
