Securing of Vulnerable Targets from terrorist attacks: Challenges and opportunities of Major Sporting Event security governance

Securing of Vulnerable Targets from terrorist attacks: Challenges and opportunities of Major Sporting Event security governance

29 June 2021 1:30pm – 3:00PM EDT

Protecting Major Sporting Events (MSEs) from terrorist attacks requires complex security and policing arrangements, such as securing locations, cybersecurity measures, managing and responding to attacks, communication, crowd management and first response operations. These critical measures often go far beyond the capacity of individual States and require coordination for supporting not only the countries hosting the MSEs, but all other stakeholders potentially affected by terrorist threats. As spectators begin to return to sporting venues, it is of the upmost importance that Member States are equipped with the proper tools to combat these challenges.

In this context, the Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism (Global Sports Programme) led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and its implementing partners, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) developed ‘the United Nations Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies’ to assist Member States in the successful planning and implementation of security measures for MSEs.

The Global Guide

The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the United Nations Security Council resolution 2396 (2017) recognize the importance of protecting MSEs from terrorist attacks. On the occasion of the launch of the Global Sports Programme in 2020 at the UN Headquarters, an expert- level meeting was convened with contributions from Member State senior officials, international and regional organizations, the International Olympic Committee, the FIFA and other main sports federations, and private entities with direct interest in MSEs. Follow-up technical consultations led to the preparation of the United Nations Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies which reflects innovative methods and successful practices for guiding policy and decision makers on MSE security planning.

Capacity-Building

The Global Programme provides capacity-building activities to requesting Member States engaged in the planning of MSEs. Through a network of national focal points nominated by Member States for the Global Sports Programme, Members States engaging in the Programme benefit from the expertise and experiences of an international community of experts and have the opportunity to share knowledge and actionable good practices.

Side event goal

Launching the new United Nations Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies.

Presenting the technical assistance and training offered by the Global Sports Programme to Member States that are planning or intending to host MSEs, including on using these events for building resiliency to violent extremism.

The event will be livestreamed via CISCO WebEX.

The concept note and agenda for the virtual side event is available here. 

You can register here: https://bit.ly/2SSk2Ch.