Badminton players unite behind new charity

Birmingham: Room 101 in a hotel in central Birmingham on an overcast morning and a new and possibly unique venture is launched.

Top players from the world of badminton, gathered for last week`s annual All England championships, give up their time for a media conference to lend the sport`s muscle to a new charity called Solibad. Brainchild of French photo-journalist Raphael Sachetat, its name in French is Badminton Sans Frontieres, echoing the renowned Medecins Sans Frontieres.The aim is to pull together human and financial resources to raise funds through the badminton community and beyond to help small-scale projects. Two are already under way at orphanages in Bali and Kuala Lumpur. Solibad is also engaged with another charity, Peace and Sport, on a project called "1,000 Rackets for Haiti". This aims to collect badminton equipment around the world to help Haitian youngsters living in survivor camps to overcome their trauma and to resume living together in confidence. Sachetat, 37, told reporters on the eve of the Solibad launch: "It`s exciting for me and I know the players are excited."It`s unique I think because it`s the first time so many players in one sport and the overall community have come together to support one foundation or one cause.” "I may be wrong but I`ve not seen that in any other sports. It`s usually one star that has his own foundation but everybody coming together from the top stars to the leisure players all for one cause, I think it`s unique." Bureau Report