VIPs asked to step into ATP world doubles crisis

VIPs asked to step into ATP world doubles crisis

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian tennis association (Pelti) has
asked its top brass to intervene in a crisis which is threatening
the ATP Tour World Doubles championship in Indonesia.

Pelti's promotion and foreign affairs director Eddy Katimansah
sent letters to Chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Honorary
Chairman Moerdiono yesterday, asking them to urge local
television station TPI (Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia) to
reconsider its decision to break its contract to provide live
coverage of the ATP Tour.

"For the sake of tennis development in this country, we will
insist on holding the prestigious tournament here, at least for
the second successive period," Eddy told The Jakarta Post and
Republika yesterday.

TPI has decided not to televise the season-ending tournament
featuring the world's top eight teams, scheduled for Nov. 21 to
26 at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium, for financial reasons.

Eddy said he had earlier explained the problem to Pelti's
VIPs, but that, because of activities associated with the
national golden anniversary celebrations, they had not had enough
time to come up with a solution to the crisis.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, who is chairing the
republic's 50th anniversary celebrations, while Sarwono is
Minister of Environment.

ATP Tour organizers have said if they have not found another
local television station to cover the event by Sept. 5 they will
would move the US$1.3 tournament to another country.

TPI and ATP Tour signed a two-year broadcasting deal in
February last year. The inaugural edition of the championship in
November last year was considered poorly organized, with the
organizers reportedly suffering losses of $1 million.

Russell Barlow, ATP Tour's consultant for the championship,
said over the weekend that he would bring the case to the
organization's executive during the U.S. Open, which starts on
Aug. 28.

Eddy criticized ATP Tour for not involving Pelti during the
championship last year but guaranteed that the national tennis
governing body would help ATP Tour and TPI seek a settlement.

"Both Pak (Mr.) Moerdiono and Pak Sarwono are good mediators,"
Eddy said. "We should not think of who will benefit from this
tournament first. Both ATP and TPI could share the losses if
necessary."

U-turn

TPI has defended its decision to drop the contract but has
hinted that it could make a U-turn if a third party were to
provide a helping hand.

"We swallow a bigger portion of losses. It's unfair," TPI
spokesman Khaerul Haluan Nasution said yesterday. "The tournament
will be of small benefit to our tennis, considering the fact that
we have better chances for growth in the sport in singles, not
doubles," he added.

Khaerul said the private TV station had reached the
controversial decision after lengthy deliberations. TPI informed
ATP Tour of the decision at the end of July, shattering the six-
month preparations made by the international tennis organization.

Khaerul said TPI would need another party willing to provide
financial assistance it if were to mend the broken deal.

He declined to disclose the size of the losses incurred by TPI
during the inaugural championship. TPI Director Fahmi Alatas said
last year that the television station had to pay $1.75 million
per year for the broadcasting rights. (amd)