Badminton World Federation Elects Hoyer Larsen As New Chief
Olympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen is the new president of Badminton World Federation.
SHOWS: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (MAY 18, 2013)
1. ENTRANCE TO BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION (BWF) NEWS CONFERENCE
2. BWF LOGO
3. ARRIVAL OF BWF NEW PRESIDENT POUL-ERIK HOYER LARSEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT, KANG YOUNG-JOONG
4. PHOTOGRAPHERS
5. HOYER LARSEN AND KANG
6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION PRESIDENT, POUL-ERIK HOYER LARSEN SAYING:
"Now badminton has been in my heart for the whole life and therefore I cherish this opportunity and that I really looking forward to work with the staff, my council members in order to deliver also for the future, so that we are fulfilling the task that had been set by Dr. Kang."
7. REPORTERS
8. KANG LOOKING AT HOYER LARSEN
9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION PRESIDENT, POUL-ERIK HOYER LARSEN SAYING:
"Match-fixing or match-throwing of course is of a concern. But firstly, for my opinion, is of course to set up a council in the commission that is where we are dealing with the matter. But definitely is it of my concern."
10. REPORTERS
11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION PRESIDENT, POUL-ERIK HOYER LARSEN SAYING:
"I feel the necessity to definitely visit, and maybe now already prioritize Asia in my point of view, so that we are really gaining the good atmosphere."
12. HOYER LARSEN AND KANG SHAKING HANDS
13. VARIOUS KUALA LUMPUR STREET
STORY: The badminton world's governing body, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) elected Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen as its new president on Saturday (May 18) in Malaysia.
"Now badminton has been in my heart for the whole life and therefore I cherish this opportunity and that I really looking forward to work with the staff, my council members in order to deliver also for the future, so that we are fulfilling the task that had been set by Dr. Kang," said Hoyer Larsen at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur.
The 47-year-old will have four years to revive the sport, which has come under fire for deliberate game throwing.
At last year's Olympics Games four women's doubles pairs from South Korea, China and Indonesia deliberately played to lose their matches in order to get a more favourable draw.
The players were kicked out of the Games but not before it created the biggest scandal in badminton's history as an Olympic sport.
"Match-fixing or match-throwing of course is of a concern. But firstly, for my opinion, is of course to set up a council in the commission that is where we are dealing with the matter. But definitely is it of my concern," said Hoyer Larsen.
Another priority for the new president upon taking over the post will be enhancing ties among its members, especially the connection between Europe and Asia countries, such as badminton powerhouses China, Indonesia, South Korea and Malaysia.
"I feel the necessity to definitely visit, and maybe now already prioritize Asia in my point of view, so that we are really gaining the good atmosphere," said Hoyer Larsen.
The 1996 Olympic men's singles gold medallist replaces South Korea's Kang Young-joong who vacated the post after eight years at the helm of the organization.
