Report on Indonesian Open<\/p>\n
As the promoter of the 1996 Sony Badminton Indonesia Open in
\nMedan, I feel obliged to respond to various inaccuracies in your
\ncriticism of the local Organizing Committee. Firstly, there was
\nno \"lack of spectators\" as evidenced by near-capacity crowds on
\nthe last three days of the event.<\/p>\n
In fact, nearly 1,000 paying fans were turned away on the
\nfinal evening as it was a complete sell-out with over 4,000
\npersons. Your article stated that there were \"almost no
\npromotional banners up in Medan\", but it is a fact that over 600
\nbanners were erected around Medan.<\/p>\n
The event was also publicized on RCTI, in various newspaper
\nads and a \"Meet the Players\" event at Medan Mall on Aug. 24 and
\n25 drew crowds of over 1,500 each day.<\/p>\n
As far as the poor treatment of the press, it is a fact that
\nmany press people, including your reporter, were provided with
\nround trip airfares to Medan.<\/p>\n
The press room at the stadium was well equipped with
\ncomputers, printers, TV, telephone lines, etc. and many press
\ncommented to me that this was one of the best press rooms outside
\nof Jakarta. As far as press seating, many folding chairs were
\nspecially erected near the court to allow close access for
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Indeed, there were various problems which occurred and this
\nwas not totally unexpected as the local Organizing Committee had
\nnever hosted a major international badminton event before.<\/p>\n
However, the problems as portrayed by your paper were greatly
\nexaggerated and even false. As the Indonesia Badminton
\nAssociation is trying to bring world-class badminton to all
\nIndonesians in cities other than Jakarta, I would hope that The
\nJakarta Post would report in a more accurate and positive manner.<\/p>\n
Mark Adams<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Note: Our reporter had been trying to get a comments from
\nthe local OC officials but received \"No comment\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/report-on-indonesian-open-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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