- Beijing

- 21°C to 37°C
- Full weather conditions
THE 5 TOURNAMENTS
- Men: Singles and doubles
- Women: Singles and doubles
- Mixed doubles
THE FORMAT
Elimination matches lead eventually to quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
MILESTONES
- 1873
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The birth of badminton due to English officers who, returning to Gloucestershire from India, started playing a version of the Indian game "Poona". With no ball they used a champagne cork with feathers in it.
- 1877
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First rules recorded by Colonel Selby.
- 1972 and 1988
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Badminton is a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Munich and Seoul.
- 1992
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Badminton officially becomes part of the Olympic programme in Barcelona.
STARS
- Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Denmark)
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1996 Olympic champion in Atlanta (only non-Asian medalist in badminton at these Games), triple European champion in 1992, 1994 and 1996.
- Camilla Martin (Denmark)
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Olympic silver medalist in 2000, 1999 world champion and European champion in 1996, 1998 and 2000. The ex-girlfriend of compatriot and former world number one Peter Gade.
- Susi Susanti (Indonesia)
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First Olympic gold medalist for Indonesia in 1992, just two hours before her boyfriend Allan Budi Kusuma won the men's singles. Also world champion in 1993 and 6 times Grand Prix winner between 1990 and 1996.
MEDAL COUNT
| G | S | B | ||
| China | 51 | 21 | 28 | 100 |
| United States | 36 | 38 | 36 | 110 |
| Russia | 23 | 21 | 28 | 72 |
| Great Britain | 19 | 13 | 15 | 47 |
| Canada | 3 | 9 | 6 | 18 |
VOICES FROM THE GAMES
Both sides of Beijing was on display
Exceptional, but without joy
Money brings in more medals








