Canada vs. Israel in the Davis Cup Will Be Played Behind Closed Doors for Security Reasons
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – The Davis Cup World Group matchup between Canada and Israel will be held this weekend in a venue without a public due to security concerns, Tennis Canada announced on Tuesday. The organization explained in a statement that the decision was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation, due to “growing security concerns” indicated by local authorities and national security agencies. This measure comes after more than 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, urged Tennis Canada to cancel the event due to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.“At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people, while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place,” said Ziv. “We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself.” The match, which will be played on Friday and Saturday, was initially scheduled to take place at the Scotiabank Centre. Tennis Canada reported that fans who purchased tickets will receive a full refund within 30 days. “Approximately 1,500 tickets are being refunded per day,” said a Tennis Canada spokesperson. “As a non-profit organization, we are still assessing the financial impact of this decision, but it is clear that it will result in a significant loss of revenue for us.” “However, our priority has always been and continues to be the safety of people. Playing behind closed doors is the only responsible option that allows the event to take place, eliminating this risk.” In addition, media will not be allowed entry to the venue, and all interviews with the players will be conducted virtually. Halifax Regional Police did not specify if there were threats directed at the Israeli team, but did indicate that officers will be present at the event. The Center for Israeli and Jewish Affairs expressed its disappointment at the decision to close the event to the public.Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv called the result “very disappointing,” but stated that the safety of athletes, fans, and staff is the top priority.
Gavin Ziv
