THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) admit they are greatly concerned by the heightened security alert in the Brussels region, just six days before Belgium is scheduled to host Great Britain in the Davis Cup final. For now the tie, which will see Andy and Jamie Murray, captain Leon Smith, the remainder of the British Davis Cup team and an estimated 1,000 fans travel to the Flanders Expo Centre in Ghent, some 35 miles away, seems set to go ahead but fresh doubt was cast on it yesterday as the security picture in Belgium worsened.
Brussels was home to the suspected perpetrators of last Friday's Paris terror attacks, in which 130 people died, and fears of further incidents led to the metro system being closed with citizens advised to stay away from crowds, including shopping centres, concerts and large events where possible, after warnings of a "serious and imminent" threat. While the threat level in other areas of Belgium remains lower, the government nonetheless recommended that all professional football matches scheduled in the country were cancelled.
While the Lawn Tennis Association continue to prepare for the tie as normally as possible - the team were due to travel out on Sunday - there was a hardening of the ITF's position from earlier in the week. Brussels, of course, is sure to be a major transit point for British nationals flying out to the final. "Over the last week, the ITF has been in constant contact with the relevant authorities, the Royal Belgian Tennis Federation, the Lawn Tennis Association and our risk assessment company and this dialogue continues today," said ITF President David Haggerty in a statement. "We are aware that Belgium has raised the terror alert level for Brussels. This greatly concerns us but, at the present time, we are still continuing with preparations for the final. What I said last weekend is true today: security of players, fans, media and working staff remains our highest priority." Andy Murray spoke this week about the importance of the match going ahead in order "not to let the terrorists win" but it remains to be seen whether yesterday's events will force a re-think from the authorities.
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