(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Olympic handball champions France sought security guarantees from Qatar before leaving Wednesday for the world championships following the Paris attacks, a team official said.
"The players needed to be reassured," said French technical director Philippe Bana. "We reassured them. We had very precise details on the measures and that reassured them."
The handball world championships start in Doha on Thursday and the French team are feeling vulnerable due to fears caused by the militant attacks in Paris last week that left 17 dead.
"In security terms, we have had all the assurances, from the foreign affairs ministry, the embassies, the Qataris themselves," said Bana.
"The (security) level is very high, Olympic standard. So from this point of view we are very reassured," the director added.
Coach Claude Onesta said he has "no fears" about the competition and that he was sure the organisation would be "high level", but added that not all the French men, who have won the last two Olympic finals, are happy to be playing in Doha.
"We will have to do our job in a place where sometimes you wonder if everything is alright. It is not a place where you would like to live," added Onesta who said he was speaking in a strictly personal capacity.
The 24 nation competition for a pure gold trophy donated by Qatar runs until February 1.
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