The countdown is on to the YONEX BWF World Badminton Championships at Wembley Arena next month as the results of the player draw for the tournament were announced this morning.

Gail Emms, former Olympic silver medallist, celebrated at the Tower of London with two Yeoman of the Guard (Beefeaters), commenting:

“The Championships are a fantastic opportunity for the public to show support for the British athletes.  With excitement building for 2012, the battle for the World Badminton Championships this year is set to be an exciting one, and I know how important our home crowd support will be in getting behind the players.  I urge all badminton fans to lift the roof of the famous Wembley Arena!”

The draw including a tough first round match for British No. 1 Rajiv Ouseph against Danish Peter Gade (who has beaten him six times in the past); Susan Egelstaff of Scotland will play Canadian Michelle Li; and in mixed doubles Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork received a bye into the second round where they will likely face Malaysian players Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh.

See full results of the draw for English and Scottish players.

YONEX BWF World Badminton Championships 2011, 8-14 Aug 2011. Buy tickets

Two giant chalk badminton players were drawn on Primrose Hill this morning to celebrate the YONEX BWF World Badminton Championships 2011, which comes to London next month.

The 50 ft (15m) figures took four hours to complete and were brought to life by a giant shuttlecock which was manouevred between them.

The shuttlecock, which clocks in at over 10ft (3m) tall and weighs more than 4.7 stone (30kgs), later appeared in other locations including Regent Street and Wembley Arena (where the championships are being held).

The YONEX BWF World Badminton Championships, 8-14 August 2011. Book tickets

This Friday The O2 is hosting an attempt to break the world record for the largest sports lesson in the world, led by badminton star and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Donna Kellogg.

More than 900 people of all ages are needed to take part and anyone who’d like to volunteer can register in advance or sign up on the day.

The world record attempt is one of a series of events during London Badminton Week (30 May-5 June 2011) designed to encourage more people into the sport as London hosts the Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships 2011 at Wembley Arena this August.

Register for the Guinness World Record attempt, 3 June, The O2

The international gymnastics federation (FIG) announced this week that the Rhythmic Gymnastics events will be held at Wembley Arena for the London 2012 Olympics.

Rhythmic Gymnastics and the Olympic Badminton competitions were originally scheduled to be held at a temporary venue near the Olympic Park in East London.

But London Olympic Games organisers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility and relocate both sports to Wembley Arena, which will save up to £40 million. A similar announcement is expected from the Badminton powers-that-be soon.

Wembley Arena seats 12,500 and is London’s second largest indoor arena (The O2 is the biggest). Wembley Arena underwent a £35 million renovation five years ago and, as you can see from the pic, it’s looking very flash these days.

Wembley Arena has hosted some huge names in the past and this year has concerts by Flight of The Conchords, Green Day and John Mayer. Stunning acrobats Cirque du Soleil will also take to the famous stage in July.

We trust the Olympic rhythmic gymnasts will enjoy competing at Wembley Arena.