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."