The first period of a successful local sport in the ranks of Georgikon

Abstract

At Georgikon, which has more than 225 years of tradition, in addition to teaching a wide spectrum of disciplines, the institution’s task is also to provide students with an appropriate level of physical preparation. In recent years, the local appearance of badminton, an increasingly popular sport, has been closely intertwined with the university. The development of this sport started with the rental of gyms by a few keen badminton enthusiasts in the Keszthely area, and then found its home at Georgikon. It eventually became an official national sports association and currently serves both the town and the university. Badminton is a sport that originated in India and then officially spread from England in the middle of the 19th century. This sport is on the program of the Summer Olympic Games since 1992. In Hungary you can play badminton on indoor courts in around 80 locations, and the number of official clubs is currently around 60. Half of the domestic badminton venues are located in and around Budapest. Badminton is currently played in 4 settlements in Zala County. The Keszthely Badminton Association has been officially registered since 2011. Thanks to a small enthusiastic group, it was previously possible to play badminton in Keszthely, and since the beginning of the 2000s, those who like the game have rented various city gyms for training. Since 2010, the gym of Georgikon has been used as the training venue for the sport. The association currently has around 50 active members, mostly hobby players and a smaller part competitors. Among the players of different ages, in addition to the larger town membership, university students, university employees and their family members are also represented. Badminton is one of the 20 official sports associations in Keszthely, which has gained recognition in the area and is still very popular today.