This is a place for anyone who plays badminton or if you think it's the best sport in the world...cause I do! :) *Please help me gain more people into the group because i really do want it to be the biggest badminton group on MYSPACE! So add all your friends...even if they don't play badminton...thanks :)

Badminton has a surprisingly long history given its relatively recent introduction onto the Olympic scene. Badminton was invented long ago; its origins date back at least two thousand years to the game of battledore and shuttlecock played in ancient Greece, India and China. Badminton took its name from Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the home of the Duke of Beaufort, where the sport was played in the last century. By coincidence, Gloucestershire is now the base for the International Badminton Federation.

Founded in 1934 with nine members - Canada, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales, membership of the International Badminton Federation has risen steadily. There was a notable increase in new members after badminton's Olympic debut at Barcelona. Development in the sport continues to grow and the current 142 members is expected to increase further.

The first major IBF tournament was the Thomas Cup (world men's team championships) in 1948. Since then, the number of world events has increased with the addition of the Uber Cup (ladies' team), World Championships, Sudirman Cup (mixed team), World Juniors and the World Grand Prix Finals. 1996 saw the last of a highly successful invitational event, the World Cup. Started in 1981 the World Cup was established to provide top players with an opportunity to earn greater levels of prize money. As the World Grand Prix circuit has grown and prize money has increased it was felt that the World Cup had served its purpose.

New competitions are planned including one-off spectaculars and the development of a SuperSeries. It is anticipated that these will attract greater sponsorship, prize money and television. In these days of mass communications, the importance of television to a world sport is self-evident. Television brings the action, the excitement, the explosive power of badminton into homes around the world. It pulls in the crowd to see the action live; it pulls in major sponsors.

Badminton has a rich history and its future looks even brighter!

The Converse Jack Purcell sneaker, with its clean lines and signature blue smile at the toe, is often called the quintessential tennis sneaker. However, this sleek classic had its beginnings on the badminton court when it was donned by one of the sport's great heroes, Jack Purcell.

Born in Guelph Ontario, Jack Purcell began his badminton career in the 1920s and by 1924 had already garnered numerous championships on the court. In 1929, he won the Canadian Singles Championship and then went on in 1930 to retain his title by beating the four best British players, who were making the Canadian circuit.

In England, home of the sport, Purcell continued his triumphs, winning the Surrey doubles in 1931. Several years later in 1933, upon turning in his amateur status to play professionally, Purcell became the world champion. In order to provide more protection for the foot, Purcell helped to design the Jack Purcell sneaker originally introduced by the Canadian footwear division of B.F. Goodrich in 1935.

Jack Purcell's badminton career began winding down during World War II due to lack of racquets and birds and Purcell retired as an undefeated champion. His post-badminton years were spent in Canadian business circles, where he was a member of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Purcell died in Canada in 1991 at the age of 87.

The Jack Purcell sneaker carries on the legacy left by the great badminton player. Converse acquired the Jack Purcell trademark with its purchase of the B. F. Goodrich rubber division including its Lumberton, NC manufacturing facility in 1972 and continues to market this sought-after shoe. Manufactured in Lumberton, this simple canvas shoe with the light blue rubber sole is now the choice of fashionable athletes for off-court wear.

No doubt, Jack Purcell would approve.


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