The World Championships is the main individual tournament in the Badminton World Federation's annual calendar. It offers sponsors an association with an exciting and popular sport and extensive exposure worldwide through television and media coverage. Badminton is a very television friendly sport as viewers can follow the pace and action of the game clearly. Venues are also visually attractive on television as the Badminton World Federation has introduced strict rules and guidelines on the colour scheme of court settings and players apparel.

Image-wise, badminton is an excellent promotional and marketing tool for sponsors and television broadcasters as the sport itself is fast and exciting, devoid of hooliganism, scandals and corruption with a wide following among the middle and upper income bracket.

Asia, which is expected to drive the world economy in the next decade, is the world superpower in the sport of badminton. The leading badminton playing countries in the world are the key markets of China and Asean (specifically Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand). The other main badminton countries are Korea, India, Denmark and England.

These countries have dominated the world events like the Thomas Cup (equivalent of the FIFA World Cup), the World Championships and the Olympic Games badminton events. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Asia swept all five gold medals at stake with China winning 3, South Korea 1 and Indonesia 1.

With the next Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Beijing in 2008, the sport is expected to grow in popularity with increased television and media coverage in the world's biggest consumer market.

The decision to organise the individual World Championships was adopted by the IBF in 1975 and the inaugural 1st World Championships was held in Malmo, Sweden in 1977.

The tournament was held every third year at the start and from 1985, it was held every second year. It was subsequently decided to turn it into an annual championship, with the exception of Olympic Games years, from 2005. Spain hosted the 2006 event while Malaysia will organize the 2007 event.

The World Championships is the highest ranked individual competition (BWF Events) aside from the Olympic Games badminton event. It comprises of the men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.