In the IOC vote, announced today (Friday), the Chinese capital city won the contest in only the second round of voting, beating Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, with Osaka losing out in the first round.

It's a decision which has huge implications for the future of the sport. Since badminton's inclusion in the Olympic programme from 1992, the Games have never been held in a badminton heartland, and IBF are relishing the promotional opportunities of staging the Games in a country where local and regional media and live spectator interest is guaranteed.

Speaking of the historic verdict, IBF Director of Marketing & Development, Andrew Ryan, enthused: "I am delighted with the IOC decision because it means for the sport of badminton that the Olympic Games is finally coming home!

"Badminton's participation in the last three Olympic Games has been in countries where the sport is not a major league player, but with the decision of the IOC to award the 2008 Games to Beijing, the badminton competition will be played in front of a 'home crowd' for the first time.

"This gives badminton seven years in the spotlight in the build-up to the 2008 Games - a period during which IBF is making further changes to the sport to make it 'fit to television'."

China is the most successful nation in Olympic badminton, winning a total of 17 medals out of the 46 awarded to date. Indonesia is their closest rival with 12.

They took four out of five gold medals on offer at the Sydney 2000 Games - the legendary Ge Fei and Gu Jun won their second consecutive Olympic gold in women's doubles, Gong Zhichao won the women's singles gold, Zhang Jun and Gao Ling took the mixed doubles title, but the biggest shock of all was in the men's singles when eighth seed Ji Xinpeng won the title against the odds.

The Chinese team also won their fourth consecutive Sudirman Cup (world mixed team title) and bagged three of the five titles at the World Championships (in women's singles, women's and mixed doubles) in June this year, and has won the Uber Cup (women's team championships) on a record eight occasions.