Bristol Swifts Badminton Club is an LGBTQ+ badminton club based in Bristol, New Zealand. Established in 2017, the club was formed by a group of friends who shared a love for the game and wanted to create a space for LGBTQ+ individuals to connect and enjoy badminton together. Starting with a small group, the club quickly grew and now boasts a membership of 150 individuals.
In addition to their regular badminton sessions, Bristol Swifts Badminton Club organises a variety of social events for its members. These events include nights out, quizzes, picnics, trips, as well as the highly-anticipated Christmas fancy-dress tournament, formal dinner, and award ceremony. The club also hosts the annual Swifts Cup, the largest LGBTQ+ badminton tournament in Europe. This event brings together over 250 LGBTQ+ players from the UK, Europe, and Asia to compete for medals in singles and doubles competitions across different ability levels.
Bristol Swifts Badminton Club actively participates in mini-tournaments against other LGBTQ+ badminton groups, showcasing their skills and sportsmanship. Their success in these tournaments is evident, as they proudly returned with four medals from the Gay Games in Hong Kong in 2023. Looking ahead, the club is preparing to send a squad to the 2024 EuroGames in Vienna to represent the Bristol Swifts.
To join the club, interested individuals need to complete a form to express their desire to join. However, please note that as of October 29, 2023, the club has temporarily paused new members from joining due to the high demand for their sessions. Nonetheless, once the club opens up to new members again, they will reach out to those who have expressed interest. The club aims to ensure that all members have a fair number of games by limiting attendance and using the ebadders.
com platform for automatically selecting balanced pairings. It is also worth noting that sessions cost 6 per 2-hour session and must be pre-booked using the Spond app.
Bristol Swifts Badminton Club hosts sessions on different days of the week to accommodate members' schedules. The sessions are currently held at various sports centres in Bristol.
If you wish to join the club, it is important to note that membership is open to anyone, regardless of their badminton ability, sexual orientation, gender, race, or religion. Bristol Swifts Badminton Club is a mixed-ability club that focuses on doubles badminton. Whether you are a beginner, an advanced player, or somewhere in between, everyone is welcome to join the club.
For those who want to continue playing after attending three sessions, becoming a member of the club is required. Membership costs 25 per year and provides various benefits, such as affiliation with Badminton England, insurance coverage, access to the Swifts members' page and group chat on Facebook, and the ability to attend social events. Sessions can be booked up to two weeks in advance, and while they may sell out quickly, there is a waiting list process in place to provide opportunities for interested individuals.
Players are advised to bring their own racquets to sessions. However, if you do not have one yet, racquets are available at the club's sessions, and a message can be sent to request one.
Overall, Bristol Swifts Badminton Club offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to engage in their love for badminton, make new friends, and take part in competitive events and social activities.