The World Squash Federation has strongly criticized six countries for "banding together" and withdrawing from its Men's World Team Championships over security fears, according to Rachel Middleton of the INT'L BUSINESS TIMES. The championship is scheduled to kick off on Dec. 12 in Cairo. England has joined five other countries -- France, Germany, Finland, Canada and the U.S. -- in pulling out of the team event after the U.K. Foreign Office said it considered Egypt to have a "high threat from terrorism." WSF CEO Andrew Shelley said, "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." He said that a "full range of protection measures are in place" and this had been conveyed to the participating nations. Shelley backed the decision to hold the event in Cairo, saying it is a city where it is "business as usual." Dismissing calls by countries opting not to participate, to reschedule the event in another safer venue, he said, "The Championship is proceeding" (IB TIMES, 12/2).
