ACCESS CONTROL
organisational rivalries, but they must also be made aware of
the operation’s bigger picture and be clear about their specific
P
role within it. “At a football match, for example, there are lots
I
C
: S
of people moving at once, whereas at a racecourse, move-
T
A
D
ment is less concentrated but more fluid and continuous,” Lee
T W
I
explains. “Requirements for a weekday meeting attended by
E
N M
racing enthusiasts will be different from those needed at a
A
R
K
weekend meet where social spectators, maybe even hen
E
T
I
and stag parties, will be present.”
N
G
Communication is key Above: More than one million fans entered the Fan Zone in Vienna dur-
The key to effective on-day security is communication and ing the 2008 European Championships. Bottom: York racecourse security
the quality of leadership, Lee explains. “Leadership should
be centralised and where more than one organisation is At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and during the 2008
involved, united,” he says. “Clear messages can then be European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, dedi-
relayed directly to keep staff informed of what is needed cated ‘fan zones’ within host cities provided a centralised
of them throughout the day.” spectator area. At Excel in London one of the 2012 Olympic
Careful selection and training of security staff enables those venues, a one way system utilising the two nearby Docklands
with the right skills to be deployed in the right places. Lee ex- Light Railway stations, along with careful timing of event start
plains how he often employs staff with experience of nightclub and finish times, is being planned to prevent overcrowding.
work as ‘troubleshooters’ who have the ability to keep a low
profile so that people can enjoy themselves but who can react Utilising Volunteers
quickly if a problem arises. Students from local universities are The cost of effective security must also be taken into account.
often used to meet and greet or at trackside. “Although you Employing enough professional security personnel to deal with
have to be careful not to put inexperienced stewards in poten- all the potentialities of a major sporting event is beyond the
tially confrontational situations,” he adds. means of many organisers, so it is up to security companies to
Last year’s attack on members of the Sri Lankan cricket provide advice and training for individuals who are volunteer-
team in Pakistan by Islamic extremists shows that security can ing for the duration of the event only.
not just be confined to the stadium and surrounding areas. Lee explains that volunteers should be encouraged to feel
Often it’s about being proactive rather than reactive making like part of the team and not second-rate stand-ins for the
arrangements which anticipate and head off any problems. professional security guards. “As a steward you need to be
flexible, but consistent in applying the rules to make sure
people are safe and can enjoy the event,” he adds.
He recalls how his security team was called on to evacuate
60,000 people from Aintree after a bomb scare during the
1997 Grand National. “Once word got round what was
happening, there were people who actually wanted to stop
moving quickly and safely towards the exit, so they could
buy a programme – just to say they were there on the day
the meeting was abandoned!
“It’s a serious business,” Lee adds. “But good security
officers need excellent social skills and a sense of humour
because you never know when you will have to deal with
this type of bizarre situation.” ●
Crispin Andrews is a freelance journalist
70 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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