TRAVEL PLANS SQUASHED

Posted on 12/02/2015

Organizers of the upcoming men's world team squash championship in Egypt plan to carry on with the event despite the withdrawal of six countries - including Canada - amid security concerns. Canada, Germany, France, the United States, Finland and reigning champion England pulled out Tuesday, leaving a weakened 17-team field at the Dec. 12-18 competition in Cairo.

“This morning a few nations have banded together and withdrawn from the WSF men's world team championship due to their unease about travelling to participate in the event in Cairo,” World Squash Federation chief executive Andrew Shelley said in a statement. “This is both disappointing and a little difficult to understand as there has been no security threat there, unlike for the people of other nations tragically targeted by extremists. Cairo is a city where it is business as usual, though to add reassurance for nations, a full range of protection measures are in place managed by the Egyptian government as reported to participating nations.” Egypt has been battling a growing insurgency in the northern Sinai Peninsula led by a local Islamic State affiliate. It has mainly targeted soldiers and police there, but has also claimed attacks elsewhere in the country.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Kuwait but was moved to Egypt in late October due to the fallout from the International Olympic Committee's suspension of Kuwait's national Olympic committee. Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada has suggested avoiding non-essential travel to Egypt due to the unpredictable security situation in the country. Squash Canada executive director Dan Wolfenden said several national associations were troubled by the decision to move the tournament to Cairo. “Our government has provided some leadership and their decision has provided some rippling effect upon everything, including the ability to get airfares and the ability to get insurance and the willingness of our athletes and our support staff to attend when there is that kind of risk advisory,” Wolfenden said from Ottawa.

Militant attacks spiked in Egypt after President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi led the 2013 military overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi and launched a sweeping crackdown on his Islamist supporters. The government has struggled to combat the Sinai-based insurgency. “A core raison d'etre for our organization is to provide opportunities and the stage for our athletes to excel at the international level,” Wolfenden said. “That's what we do, so we did not take that lightly and our interests in our athletes are foremost. In this case it needed to be balanced with a responsibility we have for the safety and welfare of our athletes to take a responsible decision whether or not they ought to be sent into that environment.” England Squash said the withdrawal decision follows the recent wave of terrorist activity across the world resulting in the need for heightened security.

“Following the release of security plans for the event and subsequently a comprehensive report from independent security advisers, we have concluded that there is an inherent risk that has not been mitigated to an acceptable level,” chief executive officer Keir Worth said on the organization's website. “We have been through a significant consultation with the players and support staff over recent weeks and we are extremely disappointed to be withdrawing, but the safety of our players and support staff remains our only priority and at this time we have real concerns.” The WSF said it planned to update the tournament draw in the coming days.