Court arrangements cause dissatisfaction

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)