Crowd outside T&UC 08

Hello,


I would like to post some of what I see yesterday in form of article and pictures. It's about ticket problem in first day of Thomas & Uber Cup 2008. I'm sorry if this doesn't connect directly with badminton. But this happened just outside the arena and I think it would be blind to ignore it.





Regards,



- - - - - - -



This Sunday noon promises an exciting day: witnessing our badminton athletes in action at Senayan. However, as with many promises said in this country, that promise had to be broken for many people.

I arrived at about 1 pm, the scheduled time for our Uber Cup team to play the Japanese team. The policeman I asked said the ticket can be reached at the ticket counter just outside the building, so I walked there. A shout or two was heard from people gathering outside the building’s gate. I didn’t understand what it was, but that’s when I sensed something was not right.

People crowded in front of the counters, about a hundred of them. No officials were seen in the counter, but we still waited. I waited for about twenty minutes. During that time, I heard conversations of people around me.

Apparently the ticket was sold out. Why? Most said the ticket was bought by the embassies, even though when seen from the television, the seats were less than half filled. A woman said the counter was opened at 9 am, but then only 10 tickets were available. I was bothered that instant, then I pulled out my camera.

The building gate appears to be closed just before, and suddenly opened. The people waiting in the front of the gate and the ticket counter instantly rushed toward the building. The numbered more than a hundred, and went straight to entry doors in the second floor.

I didn’t understand what was going on, nor did the other people around me it seems. There were no public information conveyed effectively. All were rumors and following the mass movements.

Several minutes later, emotional shouts were heard, from both the spectator and the police. Then the gate A2 was opened and the crowd of people were granted the access. The door was only half opened, and so the people rushed in, like a school of goldfish on a feeding time.

“The area is full,” another shout I heard, and the door was closed not long after that. People were still left outside. These then waited, again for something that is not certain.

The mass still flocked A6 gate. The doors there were not opened, while the access to the main gate was restricted again. The mass in ground floor waited in front of the main entrance as well. Once in a while the shouted with a half joking tone. “Long live ‘calo’,” was one of the shout. Calo is people who buys tickets in advance and then resell them with higher price. Fifty thousand rupiah bill were waved, a sign that the flock demanded not free entrance, but a ticket to buy.

At 4.30 pm, a communication with the organizers were visible, until a few moments later a policeman showed up in the center. He told the mass to return to the ticket counters and purchase tomorrow’s tickets there.

The people then rushed outside. Some of them suspected that once they get outside, the gates will be closed. But this didn’t happen. Crowd of people was then again seen at the ticket counters, this time depending on the promise of tickets for yesterday. At 4 pm, this crowd is still waiting, with still no officials in sight.

Meanwhile, my time was short. I had to go somewhere. So I departed that place.

I was just thinking. Thomas and Uber Cup, one of the most prestigious event in badminton, the sports in which Indonesia has the most proudful achievements. This competition is held every two years in different countries. The last time Indonesia became a host nation was in 2004. I don’t know when we will become a host again. This is a rare chance for our common people to meet and directly support their own heroes to compete carrying the national identity.

It’s a pity this event had to be tainted with ticketing problems. I don’t know whether its because of the ticket wholesaler or because of ‘calo’. I don’t know whether its because of the lack of effective communication from the organizers or because of the noisy local supporters. One thing I know is that it is not fitting for supporters, of any team, to have to wait for hours without any information, or be allowed to rush inside without earning the access, as if a group of looters. Anyhow, this the local supporters, and the name of the competition this time was added a local company name.

As far as I could see, the promising day ended with a promise for tomorrow. But I’m not waiting on that anymore.



1. Crowd at the ticket counters.




2. Rushing to second floor.




3. People rushing to get in.




4. A child with dad rushing in.




5. People at gate A6.




6. Children playing while waiting.




7. Waiting.




8. A family waiting.




9. Waving money.




10. People.




11. Behind the fence and people with tickets.




12. Peeking in the dark glass.




13. Crowd in ground floor.




14. Girls inside the building while people were outside.




15. Family.




16. Father & son waiting