Initially held as a demonstration sport in 1972 at the Munich Games, this fast-paced sport returned to the Olympics in 1988 as an exhibition sport and became a permanent part of the Olympic program at the 1992 Barcelona Games. There are singles and doubles for both men and women, as well as a mixed doubles event. A match consists of a set of three games and players can earn a point whether they served or received. The first player to 21 points with a two-point lead wins the game and the first to win two games wins the set. If the score is tied at 20-all, the first player to achieve a two-point lead is awarded the win.
Asian countries tend to dominate the sport, with China, Indonesia, South Korea winning 32 of the 34 gold medals awarded to date, with Spain and Denmark grabbing the other two.
Badminton’s shuttlecock, made from cork and 16 goose or duck feathers, is the fastest object in sport, reaching speeds of more than 400 kph.
The badminton competition will run from July 24 to Aug. 2.
Venue and access information
The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza will host the badminton matches and can accommodate 7,200 people. It is about five minutes from Tobitakyu Station on the Keio Line and about 20 minutes from Tama Station on the Seibu Tamagawa Line.
[olympic_schedule sport=badminton]
