The upcoming Davis Cup World Group tie between Canada and Israel will be played behind closed doors due to “escalating safety concerns”. Tennis Canada announced the news on Tuesday following consultations with the International Tennis Federation.
The governing body for tennis in Canada said there was a “risk of significant disruption” to the event, which was expected to be played at the Scotiabank Centre. Fans are now receiving refunds, while members of the media are also not allowed into the Venue in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In a statement issued on Tuesday – three days before the tie begins – Tennis Canada said: “Intelligence received from local authorities and national security agencies, combined with disruptions witnessed at other recent events both in Canada and internationally, indicated a risk of significant disruption to this event.
“Ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including athletes, fans, staff, volunteers and minors, such as ball kids, remains our top priority.”
Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv said: “At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place.
“We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to both safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself.
“While this outcome is very disappointing, it allows the tie to proceed in Halifax and ensures that our athletes can continue to compete at the highest international level.”
The decision comes after four-time Olympian Moh Ahmed and 412 other Canadian athletes and signatories called on Tennis Canada to cancel the tie over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
In a response, Tennis Canada said it “acknowledges the ongoing and deeply complex situation in the Middle East.”
Ticketholders who were expecting to watch the tie on Friday and Saturday will receive full refunds. A Tennis Canada spokesperson confirmed that roughly 1,500 tickets per day were being refunded, and said the decision would “result in a significant loss of revenue”. Media opportunities with players and teams will also be offered virtually.
According to CBC news, the Halifax council cancelled £27k (CAD$50k) of funding for the matches at the Scotiabank Centre because the event no longer delivers “the tourism, economic and other benefits that would have been expected had it proceeded as originally planned.”
A spokesperson for Halifax Regional Police also said it was not involved in the decision to play the tie behind closed doors, and it is not one of the “local authorities” referenced in Tennis Canada’s statement.
Halifax Regional Police officers will be present at the event, but did not say whether threats were directed at the Israeli team.
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