Tight security for Cups

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

The organizers of the Thomas and Uber Cups plan to implement tight security measures for next month's badminton championships here, saying about 300 police officers will be deployed to guard the event.

Sulistiyanto, the chairman of the organizing committee, said at least three companies of police officers would be mobilized to oversee security inside the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium and around the venue.

"We have held several coordination meetings with the Jakarta Police to discuss security measures and we are all ready for this event," he said on Thursday.

Some of the countries participating in the event had voiced concern over security in Indonesia.

Sulistiyanto said most of the officers deployed to guard the event would be in plainclothes, allowing them to mingle with the public unobserved.

He said 139 officers would be deployed at the match venue and the rest of the officers would be assigned to the Hilton Hotel, the official hotel for officials and athletes taking part in the tournament.

Access to the venue will also be controlled, with 10 fingerprint screening machines and ID card readers to be installed at the entrance.

Aside from security measures, preparations for the tournament include a Rp 7 billion face-lift for the stadium and the installation of new sports equipment, Sulistiyanto said.

He said new lighting, huge video screens, a modern sound system and wireless Internet technology would be used to make the championship the best ever.

One-hundred-and-eight 900-watt lights have already been installed around the four courts inside the stadium.

Two giant screens will be installed at the rear of the courts to provide spectators an improved look at the action.

"The sound system being used for the tournament is also the latest technology available, mostly used for rock concerts abroad," Sulistiyanto said.

A wireless Internet system around the sports venue will help journalists covering the event.

The championship, which local television stations have threatened to boycott, will run from May 7 to May 16. Twenty-four teams, 12 each in the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup, with 199 players from 16 countries will take part in the event.

The participating countries are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, and the United States.

Earlier, seven local television stations threatened to boycott the championship, citing excessive restrictions in the coverage. The stations will not be allowed to use their cameras in transmitting pictures from inside the venue.

Those seven broadcasters are restricted to the media center.

However, Riza Primadi, the committee's spokesman, said on Thursday television coverage of the event would be in compliance with the regulations of the International Badminton Federation.

Riza is the production manager of Trans TV, which holds the television rights to the championship.