Thursday, 19 Sep 2024

BWF News

Former badminton players, Pi Hongyan and Pedro Yang, have been chosen as Athlete Role Models (ARMs) for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The International Olympic Committee has announced them as part of the first batch of 25 ARMs for Buenos Aires 2018, happening from October 6th to 18th. ARMs will be selected from among the sporting personalities in the 32 disciplines featured in the Olympic program.

Pi Hongyan, who is now 38 years old, is a retired China-born player who represented France. She achieved notable milestones in her career, including winning a bronze medal in Women’s Singles at the BWF World Championships 2009. She was also a runner-up in the All England Open in 2007 and reached the quarter-finals in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Pedro Yang, from Guatemala, is a four-time Pan American Games Men’s Singles medalist and a participant in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He served as a member of both the BWF Athletes’ Commission and the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

The ARMs will participate in the Youth Olympic Games for at least five days, providing support and mentorship to the 3,998 young athletes taking part in the event. They will engage with the athletes at the Youth Olympic Village and be involved in various educational activities and workshops focused on skill development, healthy lifestyles, environmental responsibility, social responsibility, and Olympism. The ARMs will also be present behind the scenes during the competitions and will be available for informal chats in a specially designated lounge accessible to all participants. Additionally, there will be “Chat with Champions” sessions, allowing young athletes to have Q&A discussions with the ARMs. The ARMs will also share their insights with fans through informal chat sessions on the Olympic Channel and other social media platforms.

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The primary objective of this program is to enable the ARMs to share their experiences and inspire the athletes to excel both on and off the field. Previous editions of the Youth Olympic Games have shown that the ARM program is highly regarded by athletes. The presence of ARMs serves as inspiration for young athletes to perform at their best and become positive role models.

During their stay in Buenos Aires, the ARMs will also engage with local youth through Learn & Share activities and participate in sport initiation sessions in public spaces.

BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, who was an ARM at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, commended Pi and Yang on their selection. He believes that their dedication and passion for badminton, both on and off the court, will be invaluable to the junior athletes competing in Buenos Aires.

Li Lingwei, Acting Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Buenos Aires 2018 and a badminton legend, emphasized that the Athlete Role Models program plays a crucial role in the Youth Olympic Games. It offers young athletes the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from the best in the sport. Lingwei also acknowledged the pressures and challenges that come with competing at the highest level and expressed gratitude for the support provided by the team of Athlete Role Models to the next generation of athletes.

List of Athlete Role Models for Buenos Aires 2018 (more to be named)

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