After reading the case in Jakarta regarding the Blackberry chaos, my mind goes back to the incident happened before the final match for goal medal between Malaysia and Indonesia. A stampede that left two Indonesian fans died. The article from The Star revealed the statement AFC acting president that chided the organizer.
Asian football boss chides
Indonesia over deaths
24 November 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: Asia’s football
chief yesterday questioned Indonesia’s safety standards after a stadium
stampede left two people dead at Monday’s SEA Games football final.
Asian Football Confederation
(AFC) acting president Zhang Jilong (pic) called for a report from Indonesia
after Monday’s tragedy, which also left a nine-year-old boy in a coma.
“We are very sorry to hear such
bad news. All football matches should be made secure by all member
associations,” Zhang said at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The deadly crush happened when
spectators broke through barriers at Jakarta’s sold-out, 90,000-capacity Gelora
Bung Karno Stadium for the game between Indonesia and Malaysia, which the
latter won on penalties.
“They should take care not only
of the players on the field but also the fans who are so excited outside the
field,” Zhang said, adding that spectators were packed into stairwells.
“So we should take action to ask
the Indonesian football federation to give us a detailed report about this.”
Indonesian police have said they
will investigate the fatal stampede, which came after tens of thousands of fans
without tickets descended on the venue in central Jakarta. — AFP
However this was what the organiser said regarding the incident and the games as a whole. "We feel so sorry." They believed that games was successful. And most importantly, please correct if I was wrong, no charges against the organiser for negligence although there were two people died. Please read the article from The Star below.
From shambles to tragedy
24 November 2011
JAKARTA: It started in a shambles
and ended in tragedy, but Indonesian organisers of the SEA Games were adamant
yesterdy their much-maligned hosting of the competition can be counted a
success.
Two fans died and a boy was left
in a coma at Monday night’s much-anticipated football final between the hosts
and Malaysia after a stampede by crowds attempting to scramble into the packed
central Jakarta stadium.
The terrifying episode cast a
long shadow over a spectacular – and well-drilled – closing ceremony on
Tuesday, capping a Games more remarkable for its chaos than the achievements of
the region’s finest athletes.
“We feel so sorry,” said Rita
Subowo, chairman of Games organisers Inasoc, of the tragedy that happened as at
least 90,000 fans filled the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium for Monday’s showdown,
which the hosts lost on penalties.
Tens of thousands of others were
locked out and a crush ensued when a gate was briefly opened and fans attempted
to barge into the already-full ground.
“It’s very difficult to control
the number of people coming to the stadium, there were people without tickets.
There were maybe half as many people waiting outside (about 45,000) as there
were in the stadium.”
Police said they would “evaluate”
the organisation of the Games in terms of the stadium, Inasoc and the policing,
but stressed that it was not an official investigation.
“In our evaluation, we have to
look at why so many tickets were sold. The stadium was over-capacity,” Jakarta
police spokesman Baharudin Djafar said.
“It’s likely that the organisers
double-sold tickets, or that there were fake tickets made.”
Throughout the 12-day
competition, which was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Subowo had the unenviable
task of defending the biennial event from a torrent of criticism.
She was frank about the problems
encountered early on, such as venues not being ready, but said Inasoc had made
up ground after a stuttering first two days.
“We understand the problems with
the venues but once we fixed them, I think the athletes enjoyed the
competition,” she said.
“It was a good Games. A lot of
good things have happened too – there were lots of records and some very strong
events.
“This was also the first time an
event like this has been held in Palembang. Yes, there were mistakes but I
think we moved on from them quickly.”
In an echo of India’s
graft-tainted Commonwealth Games, the build-up to the competition was mired in
scandal, after the ruling party’s treasurer allegedly pocketed US$3mil in
bribes from a firm seeking tenders to build the athletes’ village, and then
fled to Colombia with the spoils.
Subowo said the allegations had
delayed the release of promised government funds to pay contractors, stalling
construction of venues, infrastructure and accommodation.
The money was released after
Subowo threatened to walk out of the Games – along with her team – just weeks
before athletes were due to arrive in Indonesia.
The chaotic build-up saw
Indonesian navy ships drafted in for extra bed space, while food poisoning laid
low athletes from several nations staying in Palembang.
Media from the 11 nations taking
part lambasted Indonesia for its fumbled handling of the preparations, but as
golds accumulated the focus turned to the sport and the prospect of getting one
over local rivals.
The hosts collected 182 golds out
of the 554 available, in a bulging total medal haul of 476, topping the Games
medals charts for the first time since 1997 – when they last hosted the
competition.
Their success left 2009 winners
Thailand trailing on 109 golds, with Vietnam further back on 96.
“Finally after 20 years we have
won the most medals,” Subowo said. “After the problems we have had you cannot
imagine how happy that has made Indonesians.” — AFP
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