Matches are either singles or doubles, a bit like tennis, but players hit something called a shuttlecock, over a much higher net than in tennis.
Points are scored when the shuttlecock lands in the opponent's court. Shuttlecocks don't bounce.
In men's singles and doubles the winner is the first to get to win two games, by scoring 15 points. In women's singles they only need to score 11 points.
Who are the British hopes for Athens?
Doubles team Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson are GB's best chance for a medal at the Olympics. They are currently ranked four in the world.
Who are the big names?
It's massively popular in Asia, so expect players from Taiwan and China to do well at the Olympics.
Badminton
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