CLARIFICATION SOUGHT ON KINGS OF TENNIS AFFAIR Ahmad Muliady Ab.Majid

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Sports Commissioner Tuesday sent a letter to the organisers of the 'The Kings of Tennis' event to seek clarification on its cancellation.

The event was supposed to have been held in Penang last Friday.

Sports Commissioner Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof said he wanted to get
information on the cancellation of the event, specifically if it was due to
local or overseas promoters.

"We will study the details before making a decision," Nik Mahmud told
Bernama Tuesday.

He said he was discontented by the cancellation as it adversely affected
the country's reputation to play host to international events.

Nik Mahmud said his office had sent a letter dated Oct 30 to the local
organisers to advise them to get a organising license from the Sports
Commissioner's office but it was ignored.

He said Section 3C of the Sports Development Act 1997 said that any
company, which was not of a local sports body and which wanted to stage an
international championship needed to get a license from the Sports Commissioner.

The Youth and Sports Minister, Ismail Sabri, has left it to the
Sports Commissioner to resolve the matter.

It is reported that the local organiser has appointed a lawyer to
resolve
the matter with the overseas promoter who has alleged non-payment for the event.

The event would have seen former world number ones like Bjorn Borg, Stefan
Edberg, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.

-- BERNAMA