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Over the last few months, CAF’s Safety and Security Department has been particularly active with an increase in the number of training and initiation sessions on the security coverage of major sporting events in Africa and abroad; and a larger promotion of a security policy in each of CAF’s Member Associations.
The most recent event was CAF’s safety and security department’s contribution to the UNOCT scientific symposium, which ended on Wednesday at the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For three days – from 27 to 29 May – safety and security professionals met to provide technical assistance in security and protection to Member States and Associations bidding for or planning to host major sporting events, and to integrate sport and its values into national strategies to prevent violent extremism.
Dr Christian Emeruwa, who opened the proceedings, explained the aims of the session he was leading: ”Understanding the complexity of hosting and organising security for major sporting events allows us to appreciate the work that goes on behind the scenes, which translates into experiences for all participants and user groups. ” he said.
”Our presentation focused on understanding the concept of effective security protocols for major sporting events in Africa. Each country is unique, and each sport has its own characteristics in terms of audience, rules and regulations, venues and general operations. It is therefore important that confederations and host countries understand these differences and do not rely solely on the success of past events to determine what will happen at future events”. added Dr Emeruwa.
The programme included presentations from FIFA and UEFA. The topics covered international cooperation between regions, the essential role of public-private partnerships in using technology and innovation for major sporting events, and strategies to enhance the security of major sporting events to ensure a lasting impact and legacy.
Also part of the discussions, was the unique contribution of sport to peace, development and security objectives, the evidence-based results in the use of sporting values for peace-building, the role of youth and civil society in promoting the positive values of sport, and combating sports prejudice on social media platforms.
The UNOCT programme aimed at:
• Reinvigorating multilateral cooperation and strengthening public-private partnerships for the effective safety and security of major sporting events and the use of sports to PVE.
• Developing a roadmap based on the findings of the ad hoc working group, to address the need
• Developing innovative terrorism prevention practices inspired by major sporting events’ security governance.
