IBF to introduce special series for elite shuttlers
IBF to introduce special series for elite shuttlers
JAKARTA (JP): The International Badminton Federation (IBF) is
planning to stage a super badminton series for elite shuttlers
from five leading countries.
"IBF has submitted the proposals to China, Denmark, Indonesia,
Japan and Malaysia to get feedback on the idea. It's too early
actually to give any comments on the proposal," the secretary
general of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Leo
Chandra Wiranata told reporters Tuesday.
"The super series is intended to increase the high quality of
badminton tournaments because the participants are to be the top
ranked. IBF is still drafting the requirements," he added.
Leo said, basically, Indonesian had no financial problems to
organize the series although there were technical barriers.
"We can easily find sponsorships to finance the series, which
is not so easy for some countries. It's more difficult for them
to find interested sponsors. We can even help them to find the
sponsorship," he said.
"The problem is, we have to provide better facilities for the
players, spectators and journalists as required by IBF. We may
have to build a new stadium to fulfill the requirements."
He pointed to lighting and spectators' seat requirements that
could not be met in old stadiums. IBF also demands a media center
with 30 computers and a high standard of hotels.
"The Atlet Century Park Hotel definitely can't meet IBF's
requirements. But the requirements are still negotiable after we
send back our feedback because the requirements are too high,"
said Leo.
"IBF held a seminar on the super series idea in Sydney and
will convene another meeting in its London headquarters later
this month to discuss all the requirements and feedback."
IBF will then make its decision during its meeting in
Lausanne, Switzerland, in December.
Meanwhile, Leo also revealed that European shuttlers might
have canceled their participation in the 2000 Grand Prix final
round next February.
"There is an IBF ruling requesting shuttlers to play at least
three tournaments outside their continents to be able to take
part in the Grand Prix final. Unfortunately for the Europeans,
there tournaments in China, Hong Kong and Singapore were
canceled," he said.
"It leaves only two tournaments in Asia. We'll have to wait
for what IBF has to say about this because it's not the players'
fault." (nvn)