Bangkok has been busy preparing for months to welcome the world’s top badminton players to the three-tournament Asian Leg of the HSBC BWF World Tour 2020, putting in place an array of measures to ensure the safest possible environment for the competing athletes and their entourage.

As part of the safety procedure, all athletes, coaches, staff and entourage were required to return a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their Thailand-bound flights. Upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on 4 January, every participant was subjected to body temperature checks. Players and their entourage, in socially-distanced assigned seats on their buses, were then escorted to the hotel by police as part of BWF’s safety protocols, which includes avoiding contact with those not in the strict sports bubble. The video below by the Badminton Association of Thailand shows the process in detail.

Players have now begun their isolation time in their hotel rooms in compliance with The Department of Disease Control of Thailand’s requirements. The strict procedures allow athletes to see their physios in their rooms once practice commences. A special procedure/appointment is needed for any personnel leaving their room to visit the practice hall, or in the case of a physio, the athlete they treat.

The importance of these strict protocols have been communicated to Member Associations, players and coaches pre-tournament via a Prospectus that specifies all athletes and personnel in the ‘Green Bubble’ must stay in their room from 4 January until practice commences today.

Participants will also continue to undergo regular COVID-19 tests throughout the quarantine period during the three tournaments, which will start with the YONEX Thailand Open on 12 January.