Safety of our boys over seas

[TCompton]

Anyone know if what precautions are being made to ensure the safety of our young national talents like Convey and Quaranta as they prepare for the World Youth Championship in UAE this March? Is there any precedent for something like this where the US wouldn't send it's team to the an area of the world that is on the verge of conflict?

I just hope that if they make the trip, that their safety can be assured. What a national tragedy that would be if something happened to our boys while on their stay.

I've just been thinking about United's safety overseas. I thought I remember hearing that Israel is playing all of their WCQ in England for safety. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[ursula]

I can't think of a precedent of not sending our Gnats but there is talk that if the war is going on that Japan may be used as a back-up site. Otherwise, I'd figure that security for the event (and not just for the US) wil be pretty tight.

[DigitalTron]

The rumor is that a back up site has already been chosen in the event that war breaks out. But, at this time, nobody seems to know what that site is. Hopefully war will not break out during or just before the Youth World Championship.

But if it is held in the UAE, I'm certain that it will be well protected. As a general rule political statements have avoided sporting events like soccer. That's by no means a guarantee, but at least is somewhat comforting.

-Tron

[TCompton]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
As a general rule political statements have avoided sporting events like soccer. That's by no means a guarantee, but at least is somewhat comforting.

-Tron
The Israel Olympic team was victim of Terrorist in Berlin. And from the way I see it, the US is the second least favorite nation in that part of the world.

It is good to hear that back-up site has been chosen. I did not know that.

Thanks

[Femfa]

The Israeli team was the victim of terrorists at the Olympic games in MUNICH. Security was very poor there, apparently.

I really doubt that the U.S. is universally hated. Disliked greatly by many who think we really push our weight around? Definately.

[Benedict XVI]

i believe i read an article about this and that they mentioned that FIFA had already approached a country in the far east - maybe japan? - about being an emergency backup.

[neilgrossman]

Originally posted by TCompton
And from the way I see it, the US is the second least favorite nation in that part of the world.


We might be #1. Some see it as Big Satan (US) and Little Satan (Israel).

It's bad enough there for Israel that they choose compete in the much tougher UEFA (where they never make the WC) versus Asia (where they'd be a favorite to qualify).

If the tournament is held in UAE, I'm sure security will be really tight for us.

[revelation]

FIFA and the continental federations are first and foremost concerned with money. However, their second concern (related to the first) is safety - both that of fans and players. This year, Israeli teams have been playing their games outside of Israel due to safety concerns. If there is a war in the Middle East or even the high likelyhood of war, I would expect FIFA to move the venue out of the region.

[andylovesoccer]

Bush set a deadline of Feb 5 in his speech last night. If Iraq isn't completely submissive by that point, I am fairly certain we will attack. It is a possibility that the war/conflict will already be over, or at least confined to Baghdad. At least I hope it goes that quickly.

[Menno-soccer-man]

I am sure the U.A.E. will have very tight security. Being a friend of the US and a very small place, they can do this much better than in larger more open countries. In fact, I am sure it would be easier to cause trouble in Japan (remember the SUbway deal) than in U.A.E. I would love to go to these games, I would feel way safer there than in many other places.

In all my travels in places where US Government policy is hated, very few people hate individual Americans. Not to start a policy debate here, but FAR more people are killed by Americans than by any other group. Look up numbers of murders here and then realize how few of our citizens are killed overseas.

[SABuffalo786]

Yeah, just like Menno said, it's a matter of hating Bush(I don't blame them), rather than hating everyday Americans like you and me.