A "significant" threat aimed at an international sporting tournament in Christchurch has prompted one of the competing nations to pull out.
Syria, the country named in the emailed threat sent to the International Tennis Federation in London, has withdrawn from the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania tournament featuring 10 other
nations, including New Zealand, in Christchurch next week.
Police and New Zealand tennis authorities had decided to go ahead with the tournament after being advised of the anonymous threat. They are confident it is safe to proceed with the security plans they now have.
Canterbury Tennis operations manager Rob Wilkinson said the Syrian tennis authorities made the decision to withdraw after a phone conference with the international body earlier in the week.
It was disappointing that the team had pulled out, but it did diminish "some of the issues for us".
"They are as frustrated as anyone with regards to this. But, in the best interests of the competition, they felt it was best to withdraw."
No other nations were considering pulling out, and the security arrangements would proceed as planned.
Earlier, Canterbury Tennis director David Blackwell described the threat as a "significant security threat" aimed at Syria.
"We all accept that these things are unheard of in New Zealand, but we need to take them very seriously."
Police overseas have been working to trace the origin of the threat.
Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell said "protection and systems are in place to ensure there is a safe tournament".
Countries left competing in the tournament are India, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Korea, New Zealand, Jordan and Singapore.
Terrorism analyst Paul Buchanan, of Auckland University, believed the threat was likely to be about a conflict within tennis circles rather than international affairs.
"For dramatic effect, tennis players are not the way to go [for terrorists]. The impact of an attack at a minor tennis tournament at the bottom of the world ... probably would not matter much. It indicates probably a much more localised dispute."
