3-Cushion
HURGHADA - The uncertainty and worry are completely unfounded. The World Cup in Hurghada for sure will be played, there is no danger, the safety for players and officials can be guaranteed in the tourist city near the Red Sea. The situation will be safe and peaceful. That has been ensured by Farouk Barki, sports director of the UMB and organizer of the World Cup in Hurghada.
The disturbances are confined to the Tahrir Square in the capital Caïro, but even in the immediate neighborhood, nobody will be disturbed by the actions of thousands of protesters. ,,I just drive my car through a very quiet part of Caïro on my way to my billiard club'', said Barki this afternoon. ,,Tonight I'm going to a restaurant with my wife, everything is safe, even in Cairo.''
The Egyptian board member of the World federation doesn't worry about Hurghada too. ,,The World Cup has never been in danger, because in Hurghada everything is going well. I will show everyone how safe it is, all players and officials are very welcome.''
Jean Claude Dupont, the Belgian president of the UMB, has followed the developments in Egypt with more than ordinary interest in the past weeks. ,,We will continue to do so, to be sure, we will follow the elections on Monday. But with the promise of a new government, there we can't say there is much uncertainty about the future. What is happening in the capital, is more a demonstration of troublemakers, not people who want the revolution.''
Farouk Barki realizes that some players have been worried in the weeks before the tournament. ,,I can assure all people: if there was only one percent of threatening, I would have canceled the tournament. We have a reputation as an organizer, we are one of the best tournaments already for ten years. I wouldn't take any risk.''
Still, says Alexander Balomenos, the president of the Greek federation for instance, there is concern within his group of players. ,,I want to guarantee the security of my players of course. That's only possible if the UMB will do the same, that they take the responsability. We all know that the World Cup in Mexico has been canceled for reasons of safety this year. I'm curious what they will do with Hurghada''
Jean Claude Dupont: ,,The situation is certainly not comparable to Mexico. This week I have seen a documentary about the crime in that country. We are really escaped, for sure, that we have canceled that World Cup.''
,,For Egypt, nobody has to be frightened,'' Barki assures. ,,Even people who fly to Caïro, will not see anything from the violence in the center of the city. The airport is located thirty kilometers outside the city. Hurghada is another five hundred kilometers away from Caïro. I can say to everyone: come to enjoy, come to play in a safe and sunny Hurghada. We wish you a very warm welcome.''