The two main issues were the IBF's acceptance of Taiwan (ROC) as a national organization, and its refusal to dismiss the South African association due to the apartheid policies of the then South African government.
The founding of the World Badminton Federation was officially proclaimed at a third conference held in Hong Kong in February 1978.
Twenty-two nations and regions, nearly all from Asia or Africa joined the federation: Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Zambia.
Austria, France, Mexico (on behalf of the Pan American Badminton Confederation), Sweden, West Germany and Yugoslavia sent non-voting observers to attend the conference.
[citation needed] In March 1981, a special conference was held with the voting result of 57 to 4 in support of unification.