AUSTRALIAN BADMINTON OPEN INVITES WORLD'S BEST TO SYDNEY

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner joined top badminton players and officials for the launch of the Australian Badminton Open, which this year, for the first time, is part of the prestigious Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Superseries.

To be played in Sydney next month, the Australian Badminton Open is one of just 12 BWF Superseries events held globally each year, and with a prize pool of US$750,000 up for grabs, it will attract the world’s best badminton players to Sydney for the competition.

“The NSW Government has worked closely with Badminton Australia over the past few years to firmly establish Sydney as the home for this international sporting event,” Mr Stoner said.

“After successfully winning the Australian Badminton Open from Melbourne in 2012, the NSW Government has worked towards upgrading it to a BWF Superseries event for the next four years, from 2014 – 2017.

“The benefits of hosting the event for Sydney and NSW are enormous. Last year’s Australian Badminton Open saw close to 1,700 visitors, including 184 international competitors, come to Sydney, which generated an estimated $1.2 million for the State’s economy.

“On top of this direct visitation, the event receives significant media coverage in key Asian tourism markets.

“Set to air on broadcast channels including GDTV in China and Star Sports in India, this year’s broadcast is expected to reach over 250 million households across more than 30 countries, showcasing Sydney and NSW as a premiere international sporting destination,” he said.

Mr Stoner said badminton’s popularity in key tourism markets including China, Indonesia and Malaysia meant the Australian Badminton Open was a key international fixture on the NSW Events Calendar.

“Hosting the Australian Badminton Open as part of the BWF World Superseries will help to put Sydney and NSW top of mind as a tourism destination for these audiences,” he said.

“Visitors to Sydney specifically for the event will find a city alive with many fantastic attractions, including Australia’s best shopping and dining experiences – I hope they take the time to explore our wonderful Harbour City.

“To those living in Sydney, I encourage you to get along to watch some of the thrilling action unfold live at Sydney Olympic Park,” he said.

The Australian Badminton Open will be held from 24 – 29 June at Sydney Olympic Park. For further information and tickets, visit australianbadmintonopen.com.au.