Counter Terror Expo focuses in on sport security
Friday, 06 November, 2009
The commando style terrorist attack against the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore earlier this year, served to emphasis what many in the counter-terrorism and security fields have known for a long while; that in uncertain times the idea that the global and unifying nature of sport can be reflected in all the venues at which it is practiced no longer holds true.
High profile sporting events and their star performers represent a high value target and in the challenge to protect them from a terrorist atrocity, it is becoming increasingly evident The challenge of securing major sporting events is one that the major sports governing bodies such as the International Olympics Committee (IOC), Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Cricket Committee (ICC) and very many others are having to come to terms with as the risk of terrorist attack becomes increasingly acute.
This challenge will be explored in-depth at the forthcoming Counter Terror Expo event being held in London from 14-15 April 2010.
The event brings the worlds leading counter terrorism experts together with those tasked with the unenviable role of keeping sport safe, to debate the issues faced and help to identify best practice solutions to address current and future needs.
Delegates with special responsibility and a professional interest in sports security will be immersed over the two-days of Counter Terror Expo in the terrorist threat to crowded places, the implications for those tasked with ensuring a safe and secure environment and the methodologies and techniques necessary to ensure sport remains safe.
"World events have shown us that international terrorist groups recognise no boundaries and can and do strike unexpectedly wherever large numbers of people are likely to gather," comments Peter Jones, Managing Director, Counter Terror Expo . "This event gathers the leading experts in the field of counter-terrorism together with those tasked to provide security at the point of delivery, to share knowledge and expertise in an effort to beat the terrorist menace.
Big numbers
Sporting events present some pretty big security challenges and not least because of the sheer number of spectators who attend them.
Prime venues such as Wembley Stadium in London attract up to 90,000 spectators for events such as the FA Cop Final.
Maintaining appropriate security but with minimum disruption at such events requires an effective intelligence led risk assessment combined with efficient policing, marshaling, monitoring and access control, to ensure a match day goes to plan.
The United Kingdom has long experience in staging safe and secure international sporting events. But the UK will soon face its ultimate challenge when it plays host to the 2012 Olympic Games.
This single event is on a scale which creates its own unique security challenges given the number of locations involved and the volume of people expected to attend.
During the six weeks of the 2012 Olympic Games, the United Kingdom will host:
• 14,000 athletes from 200 countries
• 9,800 team officials
• 27,500 members of the media
• 26 Olympic sports in 34 venues
• 20 Paralympic sports in 21 venues
• 9 million spectators from across the globe
These numbers are eye wateringly huge and the event is the biggest in UK history.
Counter Terror Expo will examine in detail principal aspects of the overall security plan for the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games and look back at lessons learned from the 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games in Vancouver, offering delegates an unrivaled opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from those at the sharp end in delivering security to such high profile and high value targets.
"Lessons learned from the biggest security challenge in the sporting world, have clear application in the wider sports community. Counter Terror Expo therefore delivers an ideal forum in which to learn much from the experience of others and translate this knowledge into workable security strategies suited to any sporting event," adds Peter Jones.
Throughout the two days of the event, delegates will also have access to related specialist workshops on CCTV/Surveillance, Perimeter Security and Building and Facilities Protection amongst other techniques and disciplines.
Counter Terror Expo will be held 14-15 April 2010 in the National Hall of London Olympia.
For further information please contact Nicola Greenaway on + 44 (0) 208 542 9090 or email: ngreenaway@niche-events.com or visit www.counterterrorexpo.com
