ABC wants IBF HQ moved to Singapore

ABC wants IBF HQ moved to Singapore

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) will propose the
headquarters of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) be
moved from England to Singapore to save operational cost.

ABC's Secretary General Datuk Punch Gunalan said in a media
conference here on Saturday that the proposal was necessary with
regard that the relocation could save operational cost up to
US$800,000 each year.

"We have a commitment from the Singapore Government that it
will provide a place free of charge," the Malaysian said, while
using the occasion to also introduce South Korean Kang Young-jung
as the new president of the confederation.

Gunalan said that cost of human resources in Singapore was far
lower compared to that in England.

He said that the reduce in operational cost would enable more
money to be allocated on developing badminton.

He said ABC would propose the relocation in next year's IBF
congress held in Jakarta, coinciding with the Thomas Cup and Uber
Cup championships.

ABC, he said, was confident that the majority of the IBF
members would agree with the proposal.

Meanwhile, ABC's vice president Sulistyanto said that ABC
would also propose to establish a special committee stationed
near International Olympic Committee headquarters in Zurich.

The committee, he said, would be responsible to ensure that
Badminton was still enlisted as the competed event in Olympics.

Another ABC plan disclosed during the media conference was
about the proposal to assign badminton envoys with the task of
further promoting badminton across the world.

2000 Olympic silver medalist Hendrawan, who has just retired
from badminton, is a candidate from Indonesia.