More control for Sea Games Federation

THE Sea Games Federation (SGF) will meet on Mar 31 to discuss two matters — broadcast standards and an ad hoc arbitration panel.

Following the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) board meeting on Tuesday, president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar will propose for a broadcast commission to be set up in order to have control over the future standard of broadcast for future Sea Games’.

“We believe it’s time for SGF to have some control over the broadcast of Sea Games in the future,” he said.

Tunku Imran said previously, hosts countries had given the rights for free and were taken advantage of by private channels who capitalised on the airtime at no additional costs to the relevant parties.

“That’s part of the reason but secondly, to be able to control the quality of the feed, the signal and what sports should be covered.”

The second item to be proposed as part of the Sea Games constitution is the ad hoc arbitration panel which will be responsible for making decisions on any disputes or legal issues prior and during the Games in order to achieve a decision as fast as possible.

“Different countries can nominate a person, they don’t have to be here in Kuala Lumpur as due to modern technology, they can remain in their countries and decisions can be made without them being (physically) here.

“We do believe that this panel will not have much to do because if there is, then there’s something wrong with the SGF.” Farah Azharie