Famine haunts stadium

JAKARTA: "Where can we get food around here?" was the common question asked by visitors and journalists alike at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium.

To their disappointment, they all got the same reply. "There are no food stalls around here. You'll have quite a walk in front of you if you want something to eat."

The organizers of the 2004 Thomas and Uber Cups have proved themselves to be extraordinarily efficient in doing up the stadium and its surroundings, which, unfortunately for the hunger afflicted, includes the banning of street food vendors from the complex.

The policy has left spectators and journalists in the lurch, with not even a simple snack to be found. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that the organizers have failed to provide any restaurants or cafeterias.

"We will be covering the event for about 10 days, from noon until late at night. We can't go on like this, it's not healthy," a journalist said.

"I'm dying of hunger," another journalist added plaintively. -- JP