PARIS, June 6, 2011 -
On
June 5th 2011, Badminton and the Foundation SOLIBAD - Badminton
without
Borders entered History by performing the world's biggest
Flashmob ever
performed, as more than 65 cities participating in the 1st
"SOLIBAD
Day", which was celebrated in iconic places all over the world.
The Flashmob started out in Australia and New Zealand, and slowly
progressed
throughout the rest of the world, with incredible images of
badminton players
of all ages, taking a racket and performing a
badminton routine - like a
dance, in front of often astonished
pedestrians. Some were big flashmobs. Some
small ones. Some under a
bright sun. Some under pouring rain.
Some epic
stories behind this event, which is quite unique in the world:
In Bangkok,
Thailand, the Solibad Ambassadors decided to make up for
their frustration of
not being able to lead the flashmob in their own
countries and decided to go
for a last minute impressive Flashmob in
front of a Thai Temple, led by Pi
Hongyan and followed by some of the
world's top stars who participate in the
upcoming Thailand Open.
In Indonesia, Greysia Polii and Vita Marisa were
together with former
Legend Hariyanto Arbi to perform the Flashmob in
Jakarta's Central Park
Mall, at the public's biggest surprise. Few hours
before Rexy Mainaky
and Koo Kien Keat had done the same outside the famous
Bukit Jalil
Stadium, home of the Malaysian Open.
But not only great stars
joined the event.
Passionate coaches and
players, in the east coast of Brazil,
home of the Olympics, performed an
amazing Flashmob by the beach, in
Copacabana and other regions. An
Italian player drove back and forth 7 hours
from his home town to Milan
and back because the rain was too heavy to have it
in the Italian
capital of style, before ending up making a last minute but
colorful
Flashmob in his little village.
In less than 24 hours, Russia set up
their own Flashmob, with all
National Players changing shirts for the Solibad
Colorful shirts and
performed a joyful flashmob in front of Moscow's library.
One
of the most touching flashmob was held during the para-badminton
tournament
(for handicapped players).
In Dortmund, Germany, where Solibad
Ambassador David
Toupé together with his friends launched another unique
Flashmob -- on wheels
- joined by the staff of the tournament, ending in
shouts of joy and
happiness.
Also, amongst the amazing stories on this first "Solibad
Day", 15
teenagers in France took the lift up to one of the highest
points of
Europe, and performed a Flashmobs wearing heavy coats under the
snow, at
3842, scooping there a record for the world's highest flashmob
In
spite of the rain, sometimes, of the concurrence of Nadal and Federer
battling
in the Roland Garros final, all badminton lovers joined this
unique event, all
around the world.
No less than 65 cities from over 40 countries participated
in the event,
with all local organizers and participants already calling for
more next
year, for the second Solibad Day.
"This is a huge success for
us. It shows what a big family badminton is.
It also shows, that, in these
days and ages, it is possible to do
something positive, to unite the whole
world, with very limited
resources. Only with people who are passionate about
what they do. We
wanted to do this to send out a message that the badminton
fraternity is
very powerful and active all over the world, and ready to
support
projects like the ones we have for SOLIBAD, in a joyful manner. I'm
just
very happy and proud today" said Solibad Founder Raphael Sachetat.
"We
will be back for other surprises next year. We'll make it even
bigger"
said the French born.
Images speak more than words.
A special YOUTUBE Channel
has been dedicated to this amazing event and
Media can download the images on
simple request for editorial needs.
More than 40 flashmobs are already on the
Channel. More will come soon...
http://www.youtube.com/user/Flashmob2011?feature=mhee
Photos
are also available on request.
Here is the video Trailer of the event :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEIEslOEkts
