{"id":14993,"date":"2026-04-06T10:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/?p=14993"},"modified":"2026-04-07T13:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:45:48","slug":"badminton-builds-bridges-in-senegal-for-whitecardday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/whats-new\/badminton-builds-bridges-in-senegal-for-whitecardday","title":{"rendered":"Badminton Builds Bridges in Senegal for #WhiteCardDay"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the global sporting community marks International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on 6 April, badminton\u2019s growing presence in Senegal offers a compelling reflection of how sport can bring people together, create opportunity and break down barriers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aligned with this year\u2019s theme, \u2018Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers\u2019,\u00a0the Badminton World Federation\u2019s (BWF) work on the ground continues to\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0how meaningful change can take root in communities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the\u00a0<\/span>early foundations laid through the Dakar 2026 legacy work in 2023<\/span><\/a>, recent activity has shifted from planning to visible impact. At the centre of this progress is\u00a0FestiBad, a travelling initiative designed to introduce badminton to new audiences and embed it within local communities. The\u00a0Thi\u00e8s\u00a0stage, held from 19 to 21 December 2025, brought this vision to life in a way that felt both ambitious and deeply local.<\/span> [<\/span>vc_single_image image=”14995″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_column_text]Across three days, more than 1,000 participants took part in activities.\u00a0Schools, training\u00a0centres\u00a0and community spaces became hubs of activity, welcoming children,\u00a0adults\u00a0and educators into a shared environment of learning and play. Around 90 per cent of those involved were young people, with strong female participation reflecting the inclusive nature of the programme.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 300 schoolchildren were introduced to badminton through initiation sessions, while over 120 girls took part in dedicated school-based activities that encouraged participation and confidence. Beyond the school environment, more than 100 adults engaged through fitness club sessions, reinforcing the idea that\u00a0badminton\u00a0can connect generations and communities alike.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Twenty physical education teachers were trained through\u00a0BWF\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Shuttle Time\u00a0Programme<\/span><\/a>, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to deliver badminton within their schools. The Youth Leadership initiative supported the development of 16 young leaders, who took on active roles throughout the event and gained valuable experience in coaching and organisation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elsewhere, more than 350 young participants from sports academies were introduced to\u00a0badminton, while a further 40 young people engaged through activities delivered in partnership with\u00a0<\/span>Seed Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”14997″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_column_text]From schoolchildren discovering badminton for the first time to teachers gaining new skills and young leaders stepping into positions of responsibility, each moment contributes to a broader sense of connection and shared purpose.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sahir Edoo, Head of Development Projects at the Badminton World Federation, reflected on the initiative: \u201cFestiBad\u00a0shows how badminton can create meaningful opportunities at community level. It is about more than participation. It is about equipping people with\u00a0lifelong\u00a0skills, building\u00a0confidence\u00a0and creating structures that allow the sport to grow in a sustainable and inclusive way.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking ahead, this momentum\u00a0will continue through an expanded programme of activity across Senegal. Upcoming\u00a0FestiBad\u00a0stages are planned along the Petite C\u00f4te, including\u00a0Ngaparou, Ficelle and Somone,\u00a0followed by further events in\u00a0Ziguinchor\u00a0and\u00a0Kaffrine\u00a0or\u00a0Fatick.\u00a0Additional\u00a0phases are also being prepared for Saint Louis,\u00a0Dakar\u00a0and\u00a0Gor\u00e9e\u00a0Island,\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0FestiBad\u00a0will also be delivered in neighbouring countries such as The Gambia and\u00a0Cape Verde, reflecting a wider Youth Olympic Games legacy that extends across the region.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alongside these events, there are plans to train more teachers, strengthen Youth Leadership pathways and improve delivery through enhanced resources and coordination.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As momentum builds towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the importance of initiatives such as\u00a0FestiBad\u00a0becomes even clearer. The Games will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026 and will mark the first Olympic event ever held on African soil. Yet their legacy is already being shaped through programmes that prioritise access,\u00a0education\u00a0and community engagement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In marking IDSDP, badminton in Senegal stands as a powerful reminder that sport can connect people, develop skills and create lasting change far beyond the field of play.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”15004,15000,15002,15003,14999,15001,14998″][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/6gGdyHAs4IY” align=”center”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FestiBad in Senegal shows how #badminton is opening doors, empowering young people and building stronger communities ahead of #Dakar2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2630,"featured_media":14996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[294],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-whats-new","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2630"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14993"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15041,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14993\/revisions\/15041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.bwfbadminton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}