Volkmar Burgold Awarded Federal Cross of Merit for 35 Years of Badminton Leadership in Thuringia

Decades of Leadership in Thuringian Badminton

Volkmar Burgold shaped the trajectory of badminton across Thuringia for more than 35 years while serving as president of the Thüringer Badminton-Verband (TBV). Records show his administrative tenure laid structural foundations for both regional club play and national events. Following his final association congress, the TBV appointed him honorary president, recognizing a career defined by bridge-building between institutions and athletic communities.

“Eine ganz besondere Auszeichnung für eine herausragende Persönlichkeit des Thüringer Badmintonsports,” noted reporting from badminton-thueringen.de regarding the September 2026 ceremony in Erfurt.

Managing Major Tournaments Through Crisis

Burgold’s tenure involved orchestrating high-profile national competitions under severe logistical constraints. In 2022, Ilmenau hosted the German U19, U17, and U15 Championships under his watch. That major undertaking required handling the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic alongside sports hall availability restrictions triggered by the onset of the refugee crisis.

Beyond Ilmenau, his administrative footprint included youth championships in Gera and an international test match between Germany and the Czech Republic. Burgold routinely intervened to secure championships for Thuringia and assisted local clubs with event execution.

Expanding Regional Networks and Grassroots Inclusion

Collaboration across administrative borders formed a cornerstone of Burgold’s strategy. As a key link in the Central Germany Badminton Project—a cooperative venture uniting the badminton associations of Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt—he pushed for regular exchanges and joint development.

His influence extended into specialized athletic education and social inclusion. Since the early 1990s, the establishment of badminton at the Sportschule Jena bore his administrative signature. In later years, his outreach built formal ties with Special Olympics Thuringia and the Thuringian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (Thüringer Behinderten- und Rehabilitations-Sportverband e. V.), expanding participation pathways for athletes with disabilities.

The 2022 National Congress in Suhl

A definitive milestone of his later presidency was bringing the German Badminton Association’s national congress (Verbandstagung) to Suhl in 2022. Burgold managed the organization with an eye toward regional promotion, pairing official meetings with guided city tours and group excursions to locations such as Oberhof to highlight Thuringia’s cultural profile.

Throughout his career, Burgold prioritized face-to-face consensus. Regular in-person meetings remained central to his leadership style, ensuring clubs addressed current challenges collectively rather than in isolation.

Legacy in Youth Development

Youth support remained central to Burgold’s long-term agenda. His initiatives prioritized the expansion of youth tournaments, the enhancement of training infrastructure, active club integration, and structured coaching development. These measures aimed to provide young athletes with reliable frameworks while strengthening grassroots clubs across the region.

Although he has stepped down from active executive duties, Burgold remains closely tied to the sport as honorary president of the TBV, continuing to advise the organization as it plans future regional events.