Punch Gunalan, first vice-president of Badminton World
Federation (BWF), on Friday described the Beijing University of
Technology (But) Gymnasium as "the best venue I have ever seen at
the previous Olympics".
The BUT Gymnasium, where the 2007 International Badminton
Invitational Tournament is being held from October 10 to 14, is the
only Olympic venue located in southeast Beijing. It will serve as
the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics venue for the next year's
Olympics.
"It's nearly perfect and the best venue I have ever seen. All
the venues for the previous Olympics were temporarily modified and
had problems more or less, but this venue was specially designed
according to the characteristics of badminton," Gunalan said.
Besides, Gunalan was also satisfied with the organization of
this tournament, "I inspected the venue three weeks before the
opening of the competition at the Athens Olympics, but it was not
fully ready. However, this venue in Beijing has been put to use
within one year away from the opening of the Olympics. It is really
the first time in Olympic history."
However, Malaysia also put forward some improvements needed to
be made before next year's Olympics. "Next year, many journalists
will come here to cover the badminton while the press conference
and the media center are obviously not spacious enough. But there
is still time and we may say that Beijing has made a good
start."
(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)