Hong Kong delegation on alert over terrorist threat for Sochi Games
Group unlikely to be a target but warned to be on guard at the Winter Olympics after intimidating global e-mail is received locally
The Hong Kong Olympic Committee played down a terrorist threat ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi but still warned its delegation members to be fully alert.
The committee confirmed at yesterday's flag presentation to the four-strong delegation that they had received an e-mail containing a threat, which appeared to have been sent to a number of countries.
"I don't believe there is any reason for Hong Kong to become a terrorist target," said chef de mission Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, who will be leading the sole representative - speed skater Barton Lui Pan-to.
"As far as we are concerned, many other countries have received the same e-mail, which has no source. The International Olympic Committee [IOC] has dismissed any real threat in it and suggested it appears to be a random message from a member of the public."
It was reported last week that many European Olympic committees, including Britain, Italy, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia, had received the same e-mail.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) said it had passed the e-mail to IOC security advisers and the IOC responded saying there was nothing of substance to it. The BOA also dismissed it.
Committee president and IOC member Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, who will attend meetings in Sochi and stay throughout the Games period, reassured the delegation of their security, saying the IOC and the local organising committee would do their best to protect all the participants.