WBF moves Bermuda Bowl from Bali
WBF moves Bermuda Bowl from Bali
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi) has
expressed its disappointment with the World Bridge Federation's
(WBF) decision to move the 2001 world championships from Bali to
Paris following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
"Gabsi campaigned for two years to host the championships in
Bali before the WBF agreed to our proposal during its 2000
congress in the Netherlands," Gabsi official responsible for
athlete development Bertje Polii told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said Gabsi had spent some US$280,000 to prepare the
championships and now the organization was trying to seek
compensation from the federation.
The federation canceled Bali as the venue on Sept. 25 and
named Paris as the replacement three days after several
participating teams withdrew from the event because of the
worsening security situation in the country, the federation's
official website www.bridge.gr said.
Several Muslim groups have conducted or threatened an ID check
on U.S. nationals in the country following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The apparent retaliation move by the U.S. on Afghanistan on
Sunday further justified the WBF's decision to scrap the bridge
event from Indonesia.
"Gabsi received the letters last week and we held a meeting
last Thursday to discuss the cancellation," said Bertje.
The federation, he said, has offered Indonesia to host the
2003 event, but Gabsi has yet to respond.
"We will have to review the situation first. We will take the
offer if our country is in better condition. Otherwise, we will
suffer another cancellation," he said.
As for Indonesia's participation in the biennial event, Gabsi
is continuing its training program for its athletes, which has
been running since 1994.
Currently, Indonesia holds the men's world bridge title, known
also as the Bermuda Bowl.
Gabsi is preparing three pairs to defend the title through
Eddi Manoppo and Hengky Lasut, Frank Karwur and Denny Sacul, and
Santje Panelean and Robert Tobing.
In the women's division, Lusye Boyo and Elita Sofyan, Riantini
and Irma Korengkeng, and Nana and Suci will represent Indonesia
in the women's event of the Venice Cup.
In a separate development, spokesman of the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti), Benny Mailili, told the Post that the second
Wismilak WTA Tour would still be played in Surabaya despite the
new tension created by the U.S. attacks in Afghanistan.
"The tournament will go on despite the attacks and I haven't
received any information on any cancellations yet," he said.
"But if foreign players withdraw or cancel their Indonesian
trip, it will be a blessing in disguise because our women's
tennis players will have a greater chance at improving their
world ranking or taking most of the $110,000 in prize money."