1949 Thomas Cup 1949 Thomas Cup The 1949 Thomas Cup was the inaugural tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The tournament was originally planned for 1941-1942 (badminton seasons in the northern hemisphere traditionally ran from the autumn of one calendar year to the spring of the next), but was delayed when World War II exploded across the continents. Sir George's dream was finally realized in 1948-1949 when ten national teams participated in the first Thomas Cup competition. Three qualifying zones were established: Pan America, Europe, and the Pacific; though Malaya (now Malaysia) was the only
Viotti International Music Competition Viotti International Music Competition The Viotti International Music Competition (), named after the Italian composer and violinist Gian (Giovanni) Battista Viotti (1755–1824), is held every year in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy. It was founded by violinist Joseph Robbone in 1950 and has been, since 1957, a member of the World Federation of Music Competitions. The competition is dedicated primarily to piano and opera singing, but also features sections for violin, chamber music, oboe, guitar, dance and composition, among others. In the fifty years since its inception, thousands of competitors have taken part, many of whom have reached international fame. They include