History
Badminton in its present form dates back to 1873 when named by army officers on leave from India whilst staying at Badminton House.
The Badminton Association of England - the sport's governing body in this country - was founded in 1893 at Southsea Hampshire, following a meeting of 14 badminton clubs.  The meeting also agreed uniform laws of the game.
The sport obtained full Olympic status at Barcelona in 1992.

Facilities and Equipment Required
Badminton's popularity is helped by the simplicity of the facilities and equipment required.  The game is usually played indoors, and most school halls and leisure centres have courts already marked out.  The game can be played outdoors, but the wind can adversely affect play!  Rackets and shuttlecocks are available at most sports shops and beginners can find the basic equipment at affordable prices.  Nets and net posts are usually supplied by the club/venue.
The sport is played by the majority of players socially, but if competitive play is important, a county-based league system is organised.  For further details please contact the Badminton Association of England in the first instance.  Other details - including the laws of the game - are found on the official website.

Benefits of Participating
Playing Badminton improves general/aerobic fitness, hand-eye co-ordination and agility.  Whether played socially, competitively, as an individual, or as part of a team it is an excellent way to make new friends and acquaintances.

Variations of the Sport
Badminton is played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles formats.  When played competitively, leagues are divided into junior, schools, universities, senior and veteran leagues.