Kuala Lumpur: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has released a plan of action on Friday with several enhancements for safety and well-being protocols during the end of season competitions in response to COVID-19.
The world governing body for badminton has distributed both “Safety Protocols & Operating Procedures” and “Protocols for Players and Team Entourage” documents to all Member Associations outlining the safe return to international badminton.
Here are some of the key takeaways from those new safety guidelines:
1. Tournament personnel will be divided into three categories – Green, Orange, and Red:
2. COVID-19 Test method:
The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method will be used as this test is effective in confirming the presence of the COVID-19 virus. This test requires having both a nasal swab and throat swab sample taken and analyzed whether the individual is infected or not.
3. All players must undertake a COVID-19 test within 3 days before departing for a tournament and return a negative test result. This is to ensure that participants have at least traveled and start the Championships with some assurance that they are COVID-19 free. The BWF and the local host will advise participants on this on a tournament by tournament basis. This is at the team/player/entourage’s own cost.
4. Testing during tournament weeks (Weeks 40-48) will be conducted by the BWF, with expenses also borne by the BWF.
5. Pre and Post-match Protocols:
Instead of shaking hands, players can touch rackets with their opponents and nod/put their hands across their chests when greeting the match officials.
6. Shuttle Dispenser:
A shuttlecock dispenser will be provided at each end of the court. When a player wants to change a shuttlecock and is allowed to do so by the Umpire, the player can take a shuttlecock from the dispenser and return the used shuttlecock to the Service Judge with the racket or drop it into the shuttle box.
7. Coaching Only one coach is permitted per player/pair per match until further notice.
Badminton fans can download a copy of the COVID-19 safety protocols provided by BWF through links below:
Download BWF COVID-19 Safety Protocols & Operating Procedures
Download BWF COVID-19 Protocols for Players and Team Entourage
