I knew very little about Indonesia before I came, but did know that, as in England, there was a healthy tradition of badminton champions. Indeed, I was quite a mean player myself so, aprt from the4 contract, plane ticket and healthy salary on offer, I had a genuine motivation in coming.
Imagine my disappointment to discover that in Jakarta there were, and still are, very few facilities for playing. Vacant lots quickly got built upon and streets got taken up by traffic, so all I've been able to do to maintain my interest in the sport has been to watch the occasional coverage of championships on TV.
And now that isn't even possible, even though there will be at least one medal won at the Beijing Olympics, with Maria Kristin Yulianti through to the women's singles semi-final, the first Indonesian woman to make it thus far for 12 years.
I was intrigued, therefore, to come across one of those blogthings asking What Olympic Sport Are You?
And guess what it told me?
It's 'quite' accurate.................................
Stop press
A little birdie tells me that there will be NO live Premiership football matches on Indonesian TV this season. Astro, the Malaysian satellite broadcaster, who walked off with the rights last season, with just 100,000 subscribers have apparently lost out on the grounds of monopolistic practices. And, naturally, none of the other companies want to replace their diet of cinetrons and celebrities gossiping about other celebrities.
Does anyone really care?
Football hits great wall
I've just discovered that there is next to no coverage of the Premiership in China either.The Premier League sold its broadcasting rights to a pay-TV station with only 30,000 subscribers, from where they hope to "build the brand".
Maybe we should be thankful and hope that the rights to view the Championship, home of Charlton Athletic and good-ish football, can be bought cheapish. Fewer prima donnas and more honest endeavour please.
