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While the erroneous announcement of winners at the 2013 GrandSlam Final Standard went unnoticed by a vast majority due to the fact that the international broadcast could get edited before it aired on EUROSPORT, a few people have gone to considerable length in commenting the incident on hearsay alone.
That an apology to both couples would be in order was the positive and appropriate comment received from them. It came after the WDSF personnel officiating at the GrandSlam had already done so – much before it was suggested.
On the negative side was the insinuation that biased reporting, specifically favouritism shown by people working on behalf of WDSF towards one of the couples competing in the GrandSlam Final, was at the origin of the unfortunate incident during the awards presentation.
The members of the WDSF Communications team working in Shanghai to produce the coverage on the GrandSlam Finals consider this notion totally inappropriate. Nevertheless, the gravity of such an accusation warrants that an exhaustive investigation is conducted into the matter.
The concept of a sports federation generating coverage – editorial content included – on its own events (championships, competitions in general) can only be viable if neutrality and objectivity are guaranteed. The very second that either of the two are put in question, stopping it is the only option.
WDSF Communications will wrap up the publication of the coverage on the GrandSlam Finals (and the World Latin Formation) over the coming days and then re-evaluate its position on "Live from ..." reporting during the first part of 2014 – based also on the outcome of the investigation.
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