Badminton originated in the 19th century in India and was introduced to England in 1873 at Badminton House in Gloucestershire. It became an Olympic sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Badminton is played with a shuttlecock batted back and forth over a net by two or four players who aim to score points by preventing their opponents from returning the shuttlecock. Matches consist of best-of-three games up to 21 points, with a margin of two points needed to win.

1. Badminton
London 2012 and the Olympics

2. • During the 19th century,
British military officers
in the Indian town of
Poona used to
play this game.

3. • The sport of Poona was played in England
at the Duke of Beaufort’s Gloucestershire
residence in 1873.
The residence was
(and is still) called
Badminton House.

4. • Badminton made its full Olympic debut at
Barcelona 1992

5. The basics
• Players hit a shuttlecock over the net into their
opponents’ half.
• The aim is
to score points
by playing the
shuttlecock
so that it cannot
be returned

6. • Matches are played over the best of three
games.
• Each game is won
by the first player or
doubles pair to reach
21 points by a margin
of two clear points.

7. Field of play
• The Singles court is 13.4m long and
5.18m wide.
• The Doubles court is 13.4m long and 6.1m
wide.
• The court is
divided in half
by a 1.55m
high net

8. • Competition dates
Saturday 28 July – Sunday 5 August
• Competition venue
Wembley Arena
• Number of medal events
Five: men’s Singles, women’s Singles,
men’s Doubles, women’s Doubles and
Mixed Doubles.

9. • Link here and enjoy watching this video.