There are five events on the Olympic program.  Men and women will each participate in singles and doubles tournaments and there is also a mixed doubles tournament.

In all tournaments, the participants are divided into groups and play round robin within those groups.  The top players/teams advance to a knock-out stage, comprised of a single elimination bracket, to determine the medallists.

Badminton will be held at Wembley Arena.  First opened in 1934, it underwent major refurbishment for a reopening in April 2006 after decades of hosting various sporting events and concerts.

London 2012 Storylines:
The Badminton World Federation is still waiting to implement legislation that would require all female players to wear a skirt or dress in competition, even if they also wear shorts, in order "to ensure attractive presentation of badminton."  Initial feedback from players and the public was not in favour of the move, with some labeling it sexist.  The BMF will now hear from manufacturers, players and other parties to come up with another dress code proposal in advance of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Canada's Outlook:
Canada has never won an Olympic medal in badminton.  In fact, no Canadian has ever made it past the third round in Olympic competition. In effort to change this, Badminton Canada’s strategic plan through 2013 includes a vision for its athletes to consistently achieve top-16 in the world ranking lists with the goal of winning a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.  

Canada has the top women’s doubles team in Pan America in Nicole Grether and Charmaine Reid.  Grether competed for Germany in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and the duo are hoping she can obtain a Canadian passport in time to compete in London 2012.  Reid is also a 2004 Olympian.

Canada also has the top mixed doubles team in Pan America in Toby Ng and Grace Gao.  They are coached by South Korean legend Kim Dong-Moon, who won mixed doubles gold in Atlanta 1996 and men’s doubles gold in Athens 2004.

Canada also has an up-and-comer in women’s singles as Michelle Li looks to fill the void left by the retirement of Anna Rice.

International Athletes – At a Glance:

MEN

Lin Dan – China

• A dominant player, he did not drop a single game en route to the 2008 Olympic gold medal
• A four-time World Champion (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011) and 2010 Asian Games Champion, he can be charismatic and volatile, earning a reputation as the “bad boy” of badminton

• Won silver in Beijing 2008 for Malaysia’s first Olympic medal in any sport since Atlanta 1996, which led to him being declared a national hero
• Known for his smooth and efficient footwork, he won silver at the 2010 Asian Games and 2011 World Championships, both times losing to Lin Dan in the final
  
• 
  

• Stepped out of Lin Dan’s shadow to win the 2010 World title after taking the silver medal in 2009
• Won bronze medals at both the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Asian Games

WOMEN

Wang Shixian – China

• Won gold at the 2010 Asian Games and bronze at the 2010 World Championships
• Will be 22-years-old when she makes her Olympic debut in London 2012

• Won silver at both the 2010 World Championships and 2010 Asian Games
• Finished fourth at 2011 World Championships
• Will be 27-years-old when she makes her Olympic debut in London 2012

• Won gold at the 2008 World Junior Championships, after losing in the quarter-finals in Beijing 2008 for India’s best-ever Olympic result in badminton
• Won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games; handed Canada’s Anna Rice her final loss before retirement; the two had become friends when Nehwal first joined the pro circuit as a 15-year-old