ants
03-14-2004, 09:03 PM
DENMARK want the International Badminton Federation (IBF) to take the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals away from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Citing security concerns as the main reason, its head coach Stee Pedersen said the environment and uncertainties surrounding it hardly provided the conducive platform for the players to perform.
"I firmly believe IBF should move the Thomas Cup to another venue, preferably away from Jakarta and out of Indonesia," said Pedersen when met at the team hotel in Birmingham yesterday.
"From our point of view,there is a travel advisory barring all non-essential travel to some parts of Indonesia, and a total ban on some other parts as a consequence of the Bali and J.W. Marriot hotel bombings.
"I know that the Indonesian authorities have assured our safety and security will be provided for the team, but competing under these circumstances is hardly the right environment for the players to perform.
"You cannot play well thinking a bomb may go off somewhere." The Thomas and Uber Cup finals will be played in Jakarta on May 7-16.
And with the recent turn of events in Madrid, Spain, and the fact that the Thomas Cup will be held right smack into Indonesia's general elections, Pedersen is more concerned than ever.
"There have been opinions expressed by several countries but it is up what IBF thinks actually, added Pedersen.
"But I don't know whether IBF has an opinion or not. As for the Danish BA, we have raised our concerns but to date, have not submitted an official requesto to change the venue.
"Hopefully. more countries will come forward and collectively, ask the IBF to change the venue." But even if IBF insists on holding the Thomas and Uber Cup finals in Indonesia, Pedersen said taking the finals out of Jakarta will be a better option.
"Maybe the island of Batam will be a better option. We may not need to stay in Batam but could possibly travel to and fro to the venue from Singapore.
"As far as we are concerned, the Government's travel advisory is still in place and whether we compete or not, remains to be seen." While many teams will welcome a Denmark withdrawal from the finals, it will be a great pity for the Danes as they have, at this point in time, a collection of players who are a threat to any team's hopes of bagging the prestigious world team championships.
In singles, they have Peter Gade Christensen, Kenneth Jonassen, Anders Boesen and former world champion Peter Rasmussen to choose from. In doubles, they have three strong pairs - reigning world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen, World No 4 Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard and Michael Lamp-Mathias Boer.
Citing security concerns as the main reason, its head coach Stee Pedersen said the environment and uncertainties surrounding it hardly provided the conducive platform for the players to perform.
"I firmly believe IBF should move the Thomas Cup to another venue, preferably away from Jakarta and out of Indonesia," said Pedersen when met at the team hotel in Birmingham yesterday.
"From our point of view,there is a travel advisory barring all non-essential travel to some parts of Indonesia, and a total ban on some other parts as a consequence of the Bali and J.W. Marriot hotel bombings.
"I know that the Indonesian authorities have assured our safety and security will be provided for the team, but competing under these circumstances is hardly the right environment for the players to perform.
"You cannot play well thinking a bomb may go off somewhere." The Thomas and Uber Cup finals will be played in Jakarta on May 7-16.
And with the recent turn of events in Madrid, Spain, and the fact that the Thomas Cup will be held right smack into Indonesia's general elections, Pedersen is more concerned than ever.
"There have been opinions expressed by several countries but it is up what IBF thinks actually, added Pedersen.
"But I don't know whether IBF has an opinion or not. As for the Danish BA, we have raised our concerns but to date, have not submitted an official requesto to change the venue.
"Hopefully. more countries will come forward and collectively, ask the IBF to change the venue." But even if IBF insists on holding the Thomas and Uber Cup finals in Indonesia, Pedersen said taking the finals out of Jakarta will be a better option.
"Maybe the island of Batam will be a better option. We may not need to stay in Batam but could possibly travel to and fro to the venue from Singapore.
"As far as we are concerned, the Government's travel advisory is still in place and whether we compete or not, remains to be seen." While many teams will welcome a Denmark withdrawal from the finals, it will be a great pity for the Danes as they have, at this point in time, a collection of players who are a threat to any team's hopes of bagging the prestigious world team championships.
In singles, they have Peter Gade Christensen, Kenneth Jonassen, Anders Boesen and former world champion Peter Rasmussen to choose from. In doubles, they have three strong pairs - reigning world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen, World No 4 Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard and Michael Lamp-Mathias Boer.