Court arrangements cause dissatisfaction

JAKARTA (JP): The IBF decision to stage the 1997 Lipton World Grand Prix Badminton Finals on only three courts at the Senayan Indoor Stadium caused consternation yesterday.

The stadium has three courts, instead of four as it usually does, and there is a big empty space at one side of the arena which was a restricted area displaying sponsors' names.

The court arrangements caused dissatisfaction with some spectators, particularly those who had paid the cheapest price of Rp 3,500 (US$0.75), because they had seats in the corner of the stadium and were unable to see the matches.

"We've paid for the tickets but we can't see the matches clearly. We're really disappointed," said a young man, who requested anonymity.

The IBF tournament director, Neil Cameron, told reporters yesterday that for the organizers TV coverage was the main consideration.

"If we change the camera positions, the cameras will take pictures of the entrance door instead of seats. If we put the cameras on the center court, the spectators at home may be distracted by other matches behind the cameras," he said.

"If we want to change the court position, we also have to change all the lighting, which is not an easy job to do," he said.

Cameron said earlier that the organizers were only using three courts as a courtesy of the players as sometimes shuttlecocks from one court interfered with play on neighboring courts.

Some journalists also complained about the special press seats, which are located in the corner of the stadium in front of the empty space.

Cameron said it would be difficult for the organizers to change the arrangements but he promised to discuss the problems at an evaluation meeting after the championships. (yan)