VIPs asked to step into ATP world doubles crisis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian tennis association (Pelti) has
\nasked its top brass to intervene in a crisis which is threatening
\nthe ATP Tour World Doubles championship in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Pelti's promotion and foreign affairs director Eddy Katimansah
\nsent letters to Chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Honorary
\nChairman Moerdiono yesterday, asking them to urge local
\ntelevision station TPI (Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia) to
\nreconsider its decision to break its contract to provide live
\ncoverage of the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of tennis development in this country, we will
\ninsist on holding the prestigious tournament here, at least for
\nthe second successive period,\" Eddy told The Jakarta Post and
\nRepublika yesterday.<\/p>\n
TPI has decided not to televise the season-ending tournament
\nfeaturing the world's top eight teams, scheduled for Nov. 21 to
\n26 at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium, for financial reasons.<\/p>\n
Eddy said he had earlier explained the problem to Pelti's
\nVIPs, but that, because of activities associated with the
\nnational golden anniversary celebrations, they had not had enough
\ntime to come up with a solution to the crisis.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, who is chairing the
\nrepublic's 50th anniversary celebrations, while Sarwono is
\nMinister of Environment.<\/p>\n
ATP Tour organizers have said if they have not found another
\nlocal television station to cover the event by Sept. 5 they will
\nwould move the US$1.3 tournament to another country.<\/p>\n
TPI and ATP Tour signed a two-year broadcasting deal in
\nFebruary last year. The inaugural edition of the championship in
\nNovember last year was considered poorly organized, with the
\norganizers reportedly suffering losses of $1 million.<\/p>\n
Russell Barlow, ATP Tour's consultant for the championship,
\nsaid over the weekend that he would bring the case to the
\norganization's executive during the U.S. Open, which starts on
\nAug. 28.<\/p>\n
Eddy criticized ATP Tour for not involving Pelti during the
\nchampionship last year but guaranteed that the national tennis
\ngoverning body would help ATP Tour and TPI seek a settlement.<\/p>\n
\"Both Pak (Mr.) Moerdiono and Pak Sarwono are good mediators,\"
\nEddy said. \"We should not think of who will benefit from this
\ntournament first. Both ATP and TPI could share the losses if
\nnecessary.\"<\/p>\n
U-turn<\/p>\n
TPI has defended its decision to drop the contract but has
\nhinted that it could make a U-turn if a third party were to
\nprovide a helping hand.<\/p>\n
\"We swallow a bigger portion of losses. It's unfair,\" TPI
\nspokesman Khaerul Haluan Nasution said yesterday. \"The tournament
\nwill be of small benefit to our tennis, considering the fact that
\nwe have better chances for growth in the sport in singles, not
\ndoubles,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Khaerul said the private TV station had reached the
\ncontroversial decision after lengthy deliberations. TPI informed
\nATP Tour of the decision at the end of July, shattering the six-
\nmonth preparations made by the international tennis organization.<\/p>\n
Khaerul said TPI would need another party willing to provide
\nfinancial assistance it if were to mend the broken deal.<\/p>\n
He declined to disclose the size of the losses incurred by TPI
\nduring the inaugural championship. TPI Director Fahmi Alatas said
\nlast year that the television station had to pay $1.75 million
\nper year for the broadcasting rights. (amd)<\/p>",
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