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 Asia's biggest soccer tournament will be held for the first time
in Australia from Jan. 9-31, and AFC officials are worried about
safety plans following the 16-hour siege at a Sydney cafe that left
two hostages and their captor dead.
Alex Soosay, the general secretary of the AFC, said he contacted
Australia's organizing committee (ALOC) on Tuesday, asking for
increased protection.
"Thousands of media and fans will be traveling to Australia for the
competition, apart from 16 teams, and their security is our utmost
priority," Soosay said in a statement.
"We have asked ALOC to provide extra security in team and AFC hotels
as well as police escorts for all official activities including
training and matches in addition to increase in security across all
venues."
Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its escalating
action against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, has been on high
alert for attacks by homegrown militants returning from fighting in
the Middle East or their supporters.
 In September, anti-terrorism police said they had thwarted an
imminent threat to behead a random member of the public and, days
later, a teenager in the city of Melbourne was shot dead after
attacking two anti-terrorism officers with a knife.
Australian police sources said the gunman in the Sydney hostage
siege was an Iranian refugee and self-styled sheikh, who was known
to the authorities.
Australia is still on edge after the siege and security experts said
it was difficult to prevent attacks by people acting alone.
BIGGEST TOURNAMENT
"Australia has successfully hosted many prestigious events in the
past but the recent developments cannot be taken lightly," Soosay
said.
"I would like to assure the teams, fans and the media that ALOC will
do whatever necessary to provide the best security cover around the
competition and everyone will enjoy the best-ever AFC Asian Cup."
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The Asian Cup is the biggest soccer tournament ever held in
Australia, and features 16 teams from across the vast region,
including Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, China, Japan,
South Korea and North Korea.
Australia has already hosted some of the world's biggest sports
events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics, the 2003 rugby World Cup
and the 2006 Commonwealth Games but the next few months is looming
as an especially busy time.
In addition to the Asian Cup, Australia will also host the cricket
World Cup, the Australian Open tennis championship and the opening
round of the Formula One world championship.
The cricket world cup will be contested by 16 teams, including
Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The Indian team, currently in
Australia playing a test series, has already been given extra
protection.
"The safety of players, officials and fans is our highest priority,"
a Cricket Australia spokesman told Reuters.
"We are in constant contact with the relevant authorities to ensure
we have the most appropriate security measures in place at all
matches."
(Reporting by Julian Linden in Singapore; Editing by John O'Brien)
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