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AS THE Olympic Games comes to an end, a bumper new season of badminton is just around the corner.

Once again the Bank of Scotland International Championships at the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in Glasgow (November 19-23) is the major event of the new season - followed closely by the Bank of Scotland Play Badminton Carnivals.

More than 6,000 youngsters took part in the carnivals last season and this season promises to be even better, with Carnivals in East Lothian, Fife, Aberdeen, Galashiels and Lanarkshire as well as at the flagship Glasgow event during the week of the Bank of Scotland International Championships. There will also be another Disability Carnival at Scotstoun International Sports Arena in Glasgow in May as BADMINTONscotland continue to strive to encourage people to get involved in badminton or develop their existing skills.

Bank of Scotland support is also vital in the staging the Sportshall Challenge, which will have regional heats throughout the country as schools compete to reach the National finals in June. Who can stop Battlefield Primary, who have won the Challenge for the last two years?

And, of course, there are three Bank of Scotland National Age Group Championships, the first of which is on October 4-5 at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, where the Under 15/Under 19 Championships will be contested.

The Bank of Scotland Under 13/17/23 Nationals will be back at Meadowbank on April 18-19 while the Bank of Scotland Under 11 Championships will be at Scotstoun National Badminton Academy on May 30.

Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of BADMINTONscotland, said today: "Hopefully, seeing the badminton on television at the Olympic Games will encourage more and more people to get involved in our great sport. We have a packed events calendar this season and I for one am looking forward to seeing some of the young prospects coming through. I am particularly pleased to see another Disability Carnival in the calendar as I attended the one last May and have nothing but admiration for those who took part and the skills and enthusiasm that they displayed."

Karen Tighe, Deputy Head of Sponsorship for Bank of Scotland, said “Bank of Scotland is delighted to embark on what is sure to be another exciting Badminton season as proud partners of BADMINTONscotland. The Bank is committed to supporting the sport at all levels from grassroots through to elite players. The 2007 Bank of Scotland Centenary International Championships were another great success with Imogen Bankier winning the mixed doubles with her partner Robert Blair and it would be wonderful if more home-grown players were able to win medals at this year’s event.”

The other big event in the domestic calendar is the Yonex National Championships in Perth from January 30-February 1 when Scotland's international players will be up against their leading rivals from all over Scotland in the quest for the five coveted national titles.

The event will also sharpen up the Scotland squad for the European Team Championship in Liverpool in mid-February and for the Sudirman Cup world team championships in May when Guangzhou, in China, bid to match the City of Glasgow's superb effort in staging the Cup in June, 2007.

The Yonex Nationals come hot on the heels of the Yonex International Veterans event at Inverclyde from January 16-18.

Inverclyde will also be the venue for this weekend's opening Bank of Scotland Badminton Bonanza - with more bonanzas planned for later in the season.

As Anne Smillie summed up: "There's really something for everyone, young or old, beginner or experienced player. It really promises to be an exciting season. We want you all to be part of it."