Announcement
COVID-19 Updates
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions to deal with ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19 and the different impacts this has on various groups within the badminton community.
BWF is continuing to monitor all official updates on COVID-19 with the health, safety and wellbeing of players, their entourage, fans, officials and all other concerned parties as the top priority.
COVID-19 Update – 17 December 2020
Q. What Tournaments have been postponed or Cancelled?
A: Question 10 below gives an update on all the tournaments that have been cancelled, and the announcement on 30 March below gives an update to all those listed in Question 10.
On 6 December, BWF published an update on Grade 3 / Junior Tournament Updates (see the announcement linked).
On 17 December, BWF announced a number of cancellations / postponements to Grade 3 / Junior Tournaments (see the announcement linked).
On 8 December , BWF published an update on Grade 3 / Junior Tournament (see the announcement linked)
On 5 November, BWF published an update on 1 Grade 3 tournament (see the announcement linked)
On 27 October, BWF published an update on 1 Grade 3 tournament (see the announcement linked)
On 22 October, BWF published anupdate on Oceania Championship (see the announcement linked)
On 16 October, BWF published an update on Junior Internationals (see the announcement linked)
On 2 October, BWF published an update on Grade 3 (see the announcement linked)
On 17 September, BWF published an update on Grade 3 / Junior Tournaments (see the announcement linked)
On 16 September, BWF published an update on Grade 3 tournament (see the announcement linked here)
On 15 September, BWF published an update on postponed and cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 11 September, BWF published an update on Grade/3 tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 8 September, BWF published an update on Grade 3 and Junior tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 27 August, BWF announce update on international tournament calendar and HSBC BWF World Tour 2020 (see the announcement linked here)
On 25 August, BWF announce update on cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 12 August, BWF announce update on Para badminton tournament update (see the announcement linked here)
On 7 August, BWF announce update on postponed and cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 29 July, BWF announce update on cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 23 July, BWF announce update on postponed and cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 10 July, BWF announce update on postponed and cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 7 July, BWF announce update on cancelled tournaments (see the announcement linked here)
On 30 June, BWF announce update on tournament (see the announcement linked here)
On 29 June, BWF announce three European tournament cancelled (see the announcement linked here)
On 19 June, BWF announce two Pan Am tournaments cancelled in October (see the announcement linked here)
On 29 May, BWF announce that BARFOOT & THOMPSON BWF World Junior Championship 2020 Rescheduled (see the announcement linked here)
On 22 May, BWF announces a Revamped 2020 Tournament Calendar (see the announcement linked here)
On 11 May, BWF announce that Azerbaijan International 2020 in July has been cancelled (see the announcement linked here)
On 7 May, BWF announce that two Australian Tournaments have been cancelled in September (see the announcement linked here).
On 29 April, BWF announced the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals Postponed until October (see the announcement linked here).
On 28 April, BWF announced that the US Open had been suspended (see the announcement linked here).
On 22 April, BWF announced that one tournaments in July and one tournament in September have been suspended (see the announcement linked here)
On 20 April, BWF announced that two more tournaments in June have been suspended (see the announcement linked here)
On 14 April, BWF announced that one International Challenge, one International Series and one Future Series in June have been suspended. (see the announcement linked here)
On 7 April, BWF announced that the YONEX Canada Open had been suspended (see the announcement linked here).
On 6 April, BWF made a further announcement that four Grade 2 and 11 Grade 3 tournaments in May, June and July have been suspended, (see the announcement linked here)
COVID-19 Update – 03 April 2020
Q. Where can players get information on COVID-19?
- A. Below there is a badminton specific information for players, coaches and team managers – postponed / cancelled tournaments, calendar, rankings, travel and cancellation of tickets – as well as some general information.
- For general COVID-19 health information, look at what your local / national health authorities are saying to protect yourself and stay safe. The World Health Organisation also has a lot of information.
- The IOC’s Athlete 365 Coronavirus information is a place athletes should visit to get some good athlete specific advice.
COVID-19 Update – 31 March 2020
Q: How will postponements and cancellations affect the World Rankings?
A: There has been an unprecedented number of international tournaments that have been suspended from mid-March 2020 to the end of April 2020.
On 31 March 2020, BWF announced that the World Rankings and the World Junior Rankings would be frozen from Week 12, as at the lists published 17 March 2020. See the announcement for more details on this (linked here).
COVID-19 Update – 30 March 2020
Q: What tournaments have been cancelled or postponed?
- A: Question 10 below gives an update on all the tournaments – see also below for updates:
- New dates have been announced for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the Olympic Games will now be held from 23 July to 8 August and the Paralympic Games will be held from 24 August to 5 September 2021 – (link here for announcement).
- BWF confirmed on 25 March 2020 that the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games has been postponed (link here for announcement)
- BWF confirmed on 24 March 2020 that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been postponed (link here for the announcement)
- The BWF announced on 20 March that the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals has been postponed till August 2020 (link here for the announcement).
- The BWF announced on 20 March that three Continental Championships (CC) have been suspended due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation globally – 2020 European Championships, Badminton Asia Championships 2020, XXIV Pan Am Individual Championships 2020 (link here for the announcement).
- On 13 March 2020, BWF announced that it had taken the necessary step to suspend all HSBC BWF World Tour and other BWF-sanctioned tournaments from Monday 16 March until Sunday 12 April 2020.
- A number of the tournaments impacted as a result of the suspension fall within the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying period. BWF will make a further announcement on regulations related to Olympic qualification points at a later date.
- The full statement Can be read on the Announcements Page of the Corporate website.
- Refer to the calendar page in the corporate website to see the status of the tournaments.
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COVID-19 Update – 8 March 2020
Q: Will players and officials have to shake hands before / following a match?
- A: BWF has not made changes to the normal tournament conventions and etiquette related to shaking hands, coin toss and medal ceremony protocols.
- Players and officials normally shake hands, give a fist pump or clap of hands, which is all acceptable ways of showing respect and fair play to opponents and making general greetings.
- In cases where players do not personally feel comfortable with shaking hands with their opponent(s) or the umpire / service judge, BWF allows these players to make a different and appropriate greeting to show respect to their opponent(s) / the umpire / service judge, and this includes giving a fist pump or clap of hands or hands clasped together like many do in prayer as an alternative ways of showing respect.
- BWF has been advised from health authorities that there should be no need to forbid shaking hands or similar as long as participants are following the safe hygiene protocols generally advised – such as washing hands thoroughly and often, using alcohol based hand sanitizer and avoiding touching your face with hands.
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COVID-19 Update – 29 February 2020
1. Where can I find valid information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) related to international badminton tournaments?
- On the BWF Corporate Website under the ‘Announcements’ section: https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/. This will be updated with new information as required and will stay at the top of the section.
2. Where can general information be found regarding COVID-19 on how players, officials or Member Associations should deal with the situation?
- Everyone should seek advice from their own health authorities and be sure to receive updates through official sources and the BWF.
- BWF is following the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- BWF has issued statements and updates on the situation related to COVID-19 and the impact it has on the badminton community. These statements also include general advice on how to act in relation to COVID-19 when travelling to tournaments and gives guidelines on general preventative measures.
3. What advice has BWF given to hosts of tournaments?
- BWF, Continental Confederations and hosts of all BWF-sanctioned tournaments are in close contact regarding the COVID-19 situation.
- The objective is that tournaments are staged as scheduled unless public health authorities in that country provide a directive to not stage the tournament.
- BWF has provided hosts with guidelines to help them prepare and to ensure that contingency and safety plans are in place in the event that something happens.
- All hosts are diligently working to secure the health and safety of all participants at these tournaments.
- BWF is also working with Continental Confederations and hosts to ensure that information is provided to participants on local conditions specific to the country where the tournament is hosted.
4. Will players entered in tournaments be automatically withdrawn if a tournament is postponed or cancelled?
- Yes. All players will automatically be withdrawn from the tournament by the BWF. No further action is required.
5. Will withdrawal fees apply if a tournament is postponed or cancelled close to the tournament date?
- No withdrawal fees apply. This is irrespective of the time the tournament is postponed or cancelled.
6. Will players have to enter again into a postponed tournament if they were previously entered for the originally scheduled tournament?
- Yes. They will have to enter again once the postponed tournament opens up for entry. A revised prospectus with tournament information and new entry timelines will be sent to all Member Associations in due course once a new tournament date has been agreed with the hosts.
7. If BWF World Tour tournaments – Super 1000, Super 750 and Super 500 – are cancelled, how will this affect Player Commitment regulations?
- If Super 1000 or Super 750 level tournaments are cancelled, no fines apply to players for not being able to play in the tournament.
- If a Super 500 level is cancelled, BWF will on a case by case basis consider if commitment regulations will be adjusted for particular players affected by the cancellation.
- Tournament cancellations at other levels are not related to the mandatory participation commitments so this will not lead to any changes to these rules.
8. How will the postponement and cancellation of tournaments affect the Olympic Qualification period. Are there any changes being planned?
- BWF is not, at this point in time, planning to make any adjustments to the regulations related to the Olympic Qualification period.
- It is unfortunate that some tournaments have been postponed or cancelled and BWF appreciates that these tournaments have been part of players’ plans to seek qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and other tournaments where qualification is required (such as the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals).
- Any change to the existing Olympic qualification rules will affect different players both positively or negatively, and with the present level of postponement and cancellation, BWF does not believe that making changes is appropriate.
- The postponement or cancellation of tournaments is not within the control of hosts, BWF or the badminton community, but is caused by ongoing developments as a result of COVID-19 in different areas of the world and decisions will be taken based on information provided by public health authorities.
9. Can players enter into other tournaments where the entry deadline has passed?
- No. All entry deadlines apply as usual and entry deadlines will not be extended for any tournaments due to postponement or cancellation of other tournaments.
10. What is the status of BWF tournaments on the calendar? Will more tournaments be postponed or cancelled?
- On 13 March 2020, BWF announced the suspension of all HSBC BWF World Tour and other BWF-sanctioned tournaments from Monday 16 March until Sunday 12 April 2020.
> Please refer to the link to see the tournaments that are affected.
- Other tournaments that have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak:
> BARFOOT & THOMPSON New Zealand Open 2020 (Suspended)
> YONEX Osaka International Challenge 2020 (Suspended)
> 55 Portuguese International Championships 2020 (International Series) – 05 -08 March
> YONEX German Open 2020 (HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300) – 03 -08 March
> YONEX US Open 2020 (HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300) – 23 – 28 May 2020 – Suspended
> Lingshui China Masters 2020 – Lingshui – BWF Tour Super 100 – 25-30 August – Cancelled
> YONEX Dutch Open 2020 – Almere – BWF Tour Super 100 – 6-11 October – Cancelled
> Badminton Asia Senior Championships 2020 [New dates] to (Week 47) 12th – 15th November 2020 – postponed
> YONEX Taipei Open 2020 – Taipei – 01-06 September – Cancelled
> Korea Open – Gwangju – 08-13 September – Cancelled
> VICTOR China Open – Changzhou – 15-20 September – Cancelled
> DAIHATSU YONEX Japan Open – Yokohama – 22-27 September – Cancelled
> TOTAL BWF Thomas Uber Cup Finals 2020 – postponed to 2021
> VICTOR Denmark Masters – Odense – 20 – 25 October 2020 – Cancelled
- Junior international tournaments that have been suspended/ postponed / cancelled :
> 2nd Brazil International Junior 2020 – 25 – 29 March – Campinas, Brazil – Suspended
> Croatia Valamar Junior Open 2020 – 03 – 05 April – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Postponed
> Cyprus Junior International – 10 – 12 April – Engomi, Cyprus – Postponed
> FZ FORZA Alpes International U19 2020 – 17 – 19 April – Voiron, France – Cancelled
> Pembangunan Jaya Raya Junior GP 2020 – 14 – 19 April – Postponed
> YONEX SINGHA BANGCHAK BTY Junior International Series 2020 – 21 – 26 April – Postponed
> CIPUTRA HANOI – YONEX SUNRISE Vietnam International Challenge 2020 – Hanoi – 02 – 07 June – Suspended
> VICTOR Malaysia International Series 2020 – Kuala Lumpur – 16 -21 June – Suspended
> Styrian International, Graz, Austria – 18 – 21 June – Suspended
> IBERDROLA Spanish International 2020 – Madrid, Spain – 10 – 13 June 2020 – Suspended
> B.A.B.B. German International 2020 – Bonn, Germany – 10 – 13 June 2020 – Suspended
> Lagos International 2020 – Lagos, Nigeria – 01- 04 July 2020 – Suspended
> The 4th Iran Junior International Series 2020 – Semnan, Iran – 14 – 17 Sept 2020 – Suspended
> Sydney International 2020 – Sydney Australia – 10 – 13 September 2020
> Azerbaijan International 2020 – Baku, Azerbaijan – 16 – 19 July 2020
> Bendigo International 2020 – Bendigo, Australia – 17 – 20 September 2020
> Bulgarian Open Championships 2020, Sofia – 10-13 August 2020 – Cancelled
> YONEX Belgian International 2020, Leuven – 9-12 September 2020 – Cancelled
> LI-NING Czech Open, Brno – 13-18 October 2020- Cancelled
> V Santo Domingo Junior International 2020, Santo Domingo – 22 – 25 October 2020 – Cancelled
> XI Santo Domingo International 2020, Santo Domingo – 27 – 31 October 2020 – Cancelled
> Kathmandu International Future Series 2020, Tripureshwor – 8 – 13 September – Cancelled
> Croatia Valamar Junior Open,Dubrovnik – 16-18 October – Cancelled
> Egypt International 2020 – Cairo – Future Series -13 – 18 October – Cancelled
> Danish Junior Cup 2020 (21 – 23 August) -> Postponed to 18-20 December 2020
> GRANULAR AGE GROUP Junior Badminton Championships 2020 – Pattaya, Thailand – (03 – 08 September)
> YONEX Belgian Junior 2020 – Herstal – (18 – 20 September) – Cancelled
> Bahrain International Series 2020 – Isa Town – (01 – 04 October) – Cancelled
> Bahrain International Future Series 2020 – Manama – (06 – 09 October) – Cancelled
> CIPUTRA HANOI – YONEX SUNRISE Vietnam International Challenge 2020 – Hanoi – (27 October – 01 November) – Cancelled
> CONDENSATE Kazakhstan International Series 2020 – Uralsk – (04 – 08 November) – Cancelled
> I Future Series Costa Rica 2020 – Cartago – (18 to 22 November) – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA U19 Irish Open 2020 – Dublin – 28 – 30 August 2020 – Cancelled
> Chile Future Series 2020 – Santiago – 08 – 11 October 2020 – Cancelled
> 35th International Series of Brazil 2020 – 14 – 18 October 2020 – Cancelled
> Dubai Junior International Series – Dubai – 17 – 22 November 2020 – Cancelled
> Zambia International 2020 – Lusaka – 26 – 29 November 2020 – Cancelled
> South Africa International 2020 – Durban – 03 – 06 December 2020 – Cancelled
> South Africa Junior International 2020 – Durban – 07 – 09 December 2020 – Cancelled
> Cameroon International 2020 – Yaoundé – 8 – 11 October – Cancelled
> WONCHEON YONEX Korea Junior Open Badminton Champs – Miryang – 26 Oct – 01 Nov – Cancelled
> Colombia Junior Internacional 2020 – Manizalez – 12 – 15 November – Cancelled
> Scottish Open 2020 – Glasgow – 19 to 22 November 2020 – Cancelled
> Botswana International 2020 – Gaborone – 19 – 22 November – Cancelled
> Singapore Youth International Series 2020 – Singapore – 23 – 29 November – Cancelled
> Vietnam International Series 2020 – Danang – 01 – 06 December – Cancelled
> XI International Mexicano 2020 (16 – 20 September) – New Date – 18 – 22 November – Postponed
> IV Guatemala Junior International 2020 – Guatemala City – 16 – 20 September- Cancelled
> VICTOR Croatian International 2020 (New dates) – 23 to 26 September- Cancelled
> IV Guatemala International Series 2020 – Guatemala City – 23 – 27 September- Cancelled
> II Guatemala Future Series – Guatemala City – 4 – 8 November- Cancelled
> Russian International Junior White Nights – Gatchina – (New dates) 19 – 22 Nov- Cancelled
> White Nights 2020 – Gatchina – (New dates) 25 to 29 November- Cancelled
> VICTOR Welsh International Badminton Champs 2020 – Cardiff – 25 – 28 November- Cancelled
> Cyprus International 2020 – Latsia – 8 to 11 October – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA Ukraine Junior 2020 – Dnіpro – 14 – 17 October – Cancelled
> INFOSYS FOUNDATION India Int. Challenge 2020 – Mumbai – 10 – 15 Nov – Cancelled
> YONEX SUNRISE Bangladesh Int. Badminton Challenge 2020 – Dhaka – 25 – 29 Nov – Cancelled
> Bahrain Junior International Series 2020 – Manama – 2 – 6 December – Cancelled
> YONEX SUNRISE Bangladesh Junior Int. Series 2020 – Dhaka – 8 – 13 Dec – Cancelled
> 45th YONEX Hungarian Int. Championships 2020 – Budaors – 28 to 31 October – Cancelled
> Malaysia International Challenge – Ipoh – 3 – 8 November – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA Norwegian International 2020 – Sandefjord – 5 – 8 November – Cancelled
> Israel Open 2020 – Kibbutz Hatzor – 01 – 24 October 2020 – Cancelled
> Lagos International 2020 – Lagos – previously suspended [01-04 July 2020] – Cancelled
> Benin International 2020 – COTONOU – 16-19 September 2020 – Cancelled
> All Africa Under 19 Individual Championship 2020 – Cotonou – 25-27 Sept 2020 – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA Finnish Junior 2020 – Espoo – 23-25 October 2020 – Cancelled
> Algeria International 2020 – Alger – 22-25 October 2020 – Cancelled
> Algeria Junior International 2020 – Alger – 26-28 October 2020 – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA Irish Open 2020 – Dublin – 11 to 14 November 2020 – Cancelled
> DECATHLON PERFLY Italian International 2020 – Milano – 03 – 06 December 2020 – Cancelled
> BANGABANDHU International Series 2020 – Dhaka – 01 – 05 December 2020 – postponed
> Czech Junior 2020 – Junior International Series – Orlova – 13 – 15 November – Cancelled
> FZ FORZA Slovak Junior 2020 – Junior International Series – Trencin – 20 – 22 Nov – Cancelled
> VICTOR Oceania Junior Mixed Team Championships 2021– Auckland 15 – 17 Feb 2021 – postponed
> VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships 2021 – Auckland – 18 – 21 Feb 2021 – postponed
> VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships 2021 – Auckland – 15 – 17 Feb 2021 – postponed
> VICTOR Oceania Championships 2021 – Auckland – 18 – 21 Feb 2021 – postponed
> Slovenia Future Series 2020 – Brežice – 19 – 22 November – Cancelled
> III El Salvador International 2020 – San Salvador – 09 – 13 December 2020 – Cancelled
> Danish Junior Cup 2020 – Gentofte – 18 – 20 December 2020 – Cancelled
> YONEX Estonian International 2021 – Tallinn – 14 – 17 January 2021 – Cancelled
> 30th Iran Fajr Badminton International Challenge 2021– Shiraz – 03 – 07 Feb 2021 – Cancelled
> YONEX Dutch Junior International 2021 – Haarlem – 03-07 March 2021 – Postponed
> Austrian Open 2021 – Vienna – 24 – 27 February 2021 – Postponed
> Styrian International 2021 – 27-30 May 2021 – Graz – upgraded to International Series with USD 5000 prize money – new title – Austrian Open 2021
> YONEX Belgian International 2021 – Leuven – 7 – 10 April – Postponed – new dates to be announced
> 11th MULTI ALARM Hungarian International Junior Championships 2021- postponed – new dates – 27-30 May 2021.
> YONEX German Junior 2021 – Berlin – 10 – 14 March 2021 – Postponed
> You can also refer to the calendar page in the corporate website to see the status of the tournaments.
- Para badminton tournaments that have been suspended/ postponed / cancelled :
> European Para Badminton Championships 2020– Dublin – 5 – 10 October – Suspended
> Pan Am Para Badminton Championships 2020 – Manizales – 2 – 8 November – Suspended
> Asian Para Badminton Championships 2020 – Thailand – 2 – 8 November – Suspended
> African Para Badminton Championships 2020 – Kampala – 20 – 26 April – Cancelled
- One tournament, the Fajr Badminton International Challenge 2020 (International Challenge), has been taken out of the Olympic Qualification process due to security risks and general travel advice from a significant number of governments around the world against travelling to Iran.
- All other tournaments on the BWF calendar within the Olympic qualification period are scheduled to run. BWF and the hosts are closely monitoring the situation in countries where scheduled tournaments are hosted and will inform the badminton community immediately if the status of these tournaments change. No absolute reassurances can be given on any potential negative impacts to scheduled tournaments as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
11. What is the latest date a tournament can be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19?
- There is no “latest date” in place for a tournament to be postponed or cancelled. All hosts intend to run their tournaments as scheduled.
- If COVID-19 develops in a way where national public health authorities provide directives against the tournament being hosted, the host and BWF will have to take necessary decisions and actions at that point in time. No absolute reassurances can be given on any potential negative impacts to scheduled tournaments as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
12. What about players who have already travelled to tournaments? Are there places for them to practise at the venue of postponed or cancelled tournaments, or other locations?
- Players and teams already travelling to tournaments may be affected by the postponement or cancellation of a tournament, and may need a place to practise for a period of time until going to the next tournament.
- BWF advises that all players and teams make contact with the tournament host of the postponed or cancelled tournament, or the next upcoming tournament host, to request practice courts. BWF will be in touch with all hosts and encourage them to assist players and teams in the best possible way.
13. Can players and Member Associations receive refunds on flight tickets and hotel accommodation if a tournament is postponed or cancelled?
- The postponement or cancellation is not within the control of tournament hosts, but is caused by the COVID-19 outbreak (therefore a Force Majeure).
- Tournament hosts cannot be held liable for costs of flight tickets and hotel accommodation booked by participating players, Member Associations and other participants.
- BWF advises that participants try to get refunds on flights tickets from the relevant travel agency or airline (this is often dependent on how the original flight ticket booking has been made). During this challenging and slightly uncertain period of time, it should be considered that flight bookings be made where it is possible to cancel the ticket and have the payment refunded.
- Regarding hotel accommodation booked through the tournament host, the booking conditions informed by the host will apply. All tournament hosts are expected to try their best to mitigate against the unfortunate circumstances caused by a postponement or cancellation and hosts should seek to discuss solutions with official tournament hotels. This will have to be handled on a case by case basis, and, if it cannot be secured that prepaid amounts are refunded, participants may be liable to pay full amounts in line with the booking terms informed in the prospectus.