Winter Olympics 2014: British Olympic Association receive terror threat ahead of Sochi Games

The threat, which has also been sent to Italy, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia, 'lacks credibility'

A view of the Olympic rings in Sochi (GETTY IMAGES)

The British Olympic Association has confirmed it is one of a number of national federations to have received an email containing terrorist threats ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

But the BOA's director of communications Darryl Seibel said the threat "lacks credibility", and that it will not alter the rigid security arrangements already in place to protect the Great Britain team.

Federations from Italy, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia have also indicated they have received emails or letters with similar content, which were passed to the International Olympic Committee security advisers for inspection.

Seibel said: "We have received what appears to be the same e-mail that many other federations have received and the IOC has responded to state very clearly that in their view there is nothing of substance to this.

"In addition we have had our own experts take a look at this and they have responded in exactly the same way by stating that this is nothing credible.

"Organisations like ours receive correspondence of every type and it is not uncommon to come across something like this that lacks credibility.

"It is extremely important in matters such as this that everyone maintains a level head and a sensible perspective."

PA