The beginnings 2000-2005
Bill Brandes from Berlin, Germany created the first prototypes, of what today is known as the Speeder,
around the year 2000. Based on his invention of an outdoor wind resistant birdie, the company
Speedminton GmbH took the idea over in 2003 and developed a game which is today known as
Crossminton. The sport originates from the idea of being able to play badminton outdoors on
different surfaces without a net and is based on a smaller and slightly heavier shuttle (today Speeder).
The game was sold and marketed under the brand Speedminton. Since then Speedminton and our
sport are conquering the world. Till today there are 2.5 Million recreational players, most of them in
Europe, but also in Australia, the USA, Mauritius, India, Japan, Korea and Brazil play the game developed in a small park in
Berlin Kreuzberg.
A game develops into a sport 2005-2010
The first regional and international tournaments have been played and the first clubs been founded in
2005. Although Speedminton was the driving force and strong supporter of our Sport there has been a
mutual decision to call the Sport and Speed Badminton.
The first Speed Badminton national federations have been founded in 2007 in Germany and
Switzerland with many countries following.
In the following month and years there were more and more tournaments, the development of the
first international ranking, trainer- and referee educations.
The International umbrella organisation ISBO is born
On August 25, 2011 the international organisation was founded under the name International Speed
Badminton Organisation (ISBO) in Berlin, Germany. One day later the first ISBO Speedminton(R)
World Championships was hosted with over 380 participants from 29 countries. Since then there was
one World or Continental Championship each year:
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2011 (Berlin, Germany)
– ICO Speedminton European Championships 2012 (Porec, Croatia)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2013 (Berlin, Germany)
– ICO Speedminton European Championships 2014 (Warsaw, Poland)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2015 (Berlin, Germany)
– ICO Speedminton European Championships 2016 (Brest, France)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2017 (Warsaw, Poland)
– ICO Speedminton European Championships 2018 (Skien, Norway)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2019 (Budapest, Hungary)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2021 (Zagreb, Croatia)
– ICO Speedminton Asian Championships 2023 (Tokyo, Japan)
– ICO Speedminton World Championships 2023 (Brno, Czech Republic)
A new name, a new chapter?
At the annual 2015 ISBO General Assembly, the delegates decided to change the name of our Sport
from Speed Badminton to Crossminton and renamed our organisation International Crossminton
Organisation e.V. (ICO).
The reason for this decision was to separate our sport further from traditional badminton and create
an unique identity for our sport.
The name Crossminton was officially introduced on January 1st 2016.