The starting bell for the Race to Paris 2024 sounded on 1 May 2023, with the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023 in Suzhou being the first premier event that will attract the cream of the world’s talent. Over the next several months, until the end of April 2024, players will crisscross continents with only one aim in sight – to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The Sudirman Cup will see China host its first major event in over three years.

The period following the World Mixed Team Championships will be a busy one for players, with HSBC BWF World Tour events on successive weeks in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei. After a short break, the HSBC BWF Tour resumes in Canada, followed by USA, Korea, Japan and Australia, before the all-important TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2023 in August in Copenhagen.

While the qualifying season in 2023 will progress as scheduled, there are some changes to the calendar for March 2024, and in the list of eligible tournaments. The French Open 2024 will now be played in Week 10 from 5-10 March at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris and will be a key trial event of the venue and facilities as part of the wider Paris 2024 testing programme.

Construction delays mean that the Porte de la Chapelle Arena will not be ready in time for testing at this year’s French Open, which is traditionally held in October. BWF, in consultation with French Badminton Federation (FFBad) and the Paris 2024 organising committee, agreed to move the French Open 2024 to its new slot in March 2024, so as to ensure vital familiarisation time for players and organisers at the Paris 2024 competition venue. Also, the Orléans Masters 2024 has been moved back a week to 12-17 March.

The All England Open 2024 (HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000) and Orléans Masters 2024 (HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300) will both be held in Week 11, with the Ruichang China Masters 2024 (BWF Tour Super 100) moving to Week 12. Ranking points from the YONEX French Open 2023, French Open 2024, and Orléans Masters 2024 will all count towards the Race to Paris Rankings, which closes on 28 April 2024.