BWF Mourns the Passing of Sir Craig Reedie

BWF is mourning the passing of one its most visionary Presidents, Sir Craig Reedie GBE.  The BWF extends its deepest condolences to Sir Craig’s family – Lady Rosemary, Colin and Catriona.

Elected IBF President (now BWF) in 1981 at the age of 40, Sir Craig contributed enormously to the evolution of the IBF and the sport.

Sir Craig bought to the IBF his professional background in law and finance as well as his openness, diplomatic skills, public speaking skills and a good sense of humour.

He first joined the IBF as Council Member (1970-1977) and then quickly moved into senior leadership positions. There many milestones and achievements Sir Craig delivered during his time with the BWF, however there are two that stand out.

As IBF Vice President (1977–1981), Sir Craig used his diplomatic skills and played a pivotal role in the reunification of the IBF (1978–1981) following a split in the membership in 1978 and the formation of a competing governing body. Sir Craig worked with the IBF President at the time, Stellan Mohlin, and others to build trust and unity within the sport and eventually the reunification in 1981.

This unity paved the way for new efforts by the IBF for the sport to become part of the Olympic Games.

Sir Craig drove the strategy for badminton‘s inclusion in the Olympic Games which was achieved with the decision at the IOC Session in East Berlin on 5 June 1985. He built important relationships within the IOC, including the then IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. He secured the visit by the IOC President to watch the finals day of the IBF World Championships in Copenhagen in 1983, which was instrumental in convincing the IOC President that badminton should be on the Olympic programme.

Badminton becoming a sport on the Olympic Games programme was one of the most influential milestones in the development of our global sport.

Sir Craig became a IBF Honorary Life President in 1985 and an IBF Hall of Fame member in 1997 and went on to have an extraordinary career in world sport particularly in the IOC and WADA.

In Mumbai at the 141^st Session of the IOC, Sir Craig Reedie was honoured with the Olympic Order, presented by IOC President Thomas Bach.

BWF News Article – Fan Site

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Positions in Sport – and extraordinary career

• President – Badminton Scotland (1977-1979)
• Vice President – Badminton Europe (1974–1980)
• IBF Vice President (1977–1981)
• IBF President – (1981–1984)
• IBF Honorary Life Vice President (1985 – 2026)
• Inducted into the IBF Hall of Fame (1997)
• Chairman – British Olympic Committee (1992-2005)
• Director of the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (2005-2012);
• IOC Member (1994 – 2021), IOC Vice-president (2012 – 2016), Member of the IOC Executive Board (2009-2012), Honorary Member of the IOC (2022)
• Foundation Board Member – World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) (1999–2014)
• WADA President – (2014–2019)