Players await advice on India travel
A deadly threat hangs over a number of New Zealand sporting teams heading to India, leaving players waiting for travel advice.
A group claiming links to Al Qaeda warns athletes and spectators not to attend three major sporting events in India this year.
The New Zealand government is trying to determine whether the threats to the events are genuine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has upgraded its travel advisory on India to include details of what's going on. The advisory also advises people against travelling though India alone and encourages travellers to register their details with the MFAT, warning of the country's ongoing terrorism risk.
Terrorist attacks in Mumbai claimed more than 170 lives in November 2008 and last weekend there was a deadly blast in the city of Pune.
Now, India-bound athletes, including New Zealanders, are terrorism targets.
Prime Minister John Key says the decision whether to travel or not ultimately rests with the sporting team.
We wouldn't stop a sporting team going. But it is important we give them the best information possible," he says.
The government is working closely with India's to assess the authenticity of the threat from a group claiming links to Al Qaeda.
It warns international players and spectators not to attend next month's Hockey World Cup and Indian Premier League or the Commonwealth Games in October.
If they do, it says "they will be responsible for the consequences".
Mike Stanley of the New Zealand Olympic Committee says New Delhi Commonwealth Games officials are very aware of the potential for terrorism and have been planning "all the way along" to make sure New Zealand athletes will be completely safe.
But the Black Sticks, now in Perth and due to fly to India in just five days, have decided to stay put until further notice.
Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod says they are feeling a little vulnerable.
"They feel at the moment as if they need more information to come to hand before they can feel comfortable with where we're heading."
IPL cricket players like Shane Bond and Brendon McCullum are expected to follow their lead.
The New Zealand shooting team is already in India and has moved hotel as a safety precaution.
The government will not rule out banning more athletes travelling there.
"Well I think we would have to be convinced that there is a real and credible threat to our athletes," says Key.
Players await advice on India travel after terror threats | NATIONAL News