Doha stages the Asian Games in December 2005 and its delegates will exchange their security planning and implementation experience with groups including those from the London, Madrid, Paris, Moscow and New York 2012 Olympic bid campaigns.
The summit, which will be staged at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, will provide a forum where the diverse groups involved in staging events can learn from shared experiences and develop best practice.
Presented by Rushmans, the UK events services company and supported by media partner SportBusiness International, the programme examines a comprehensive range of security issues, from identifying risk to developing and implementing strategies to a comprehensive range of security threats.
Participants represent police and security forces, some of the world’s leading commercial risk management companies, the private security sector and sports bodies including FIFA, NASCAR, the International Cricket Council, Rugby Football Union, Football League, Tennis Australia, UEFA Champions League, America's Cup and Formula 1.
Among the speakers is Harvey Schiller, chairman of GlobalOptions Inc, a New York-based international risk management and business solutions company. In a keynote address he will examine the security issues facing sports and other major events in the United States post 9/11 and the lessons to be drawn from the US experience.
Schiller is acting chairman of the Management Committee for the NYC 2012 Olympic Bid Committee and a former executive director of the USA Olympic Committee.
Walter Gagg, head of security at FIFA, will participate in a number of the conference sessions, while Rory Steyn, head of the security directorate for the Cricket World Cup, will deliver a case study based on the 2003 event staged in South Africa.
Senior Metropolitan Police security and terrorism specialist Chief Superintendent Bob Mackie of the Metropolitan Police and Ben Van Deventer of the South African Police service will add their weight of experience and knowledge in keynote addresses and panel sessions, while Adam Ashmead-Bartlett of Kroll and Justin Priestly of AON will deliver informed perspectives on the identification of threat and use of intelligence.
Among the speakers who will focus on the role of technology in securing sports events is Jan Noblott who managed Atos Origin’s security operation at the Athens Olympic Games.
Nigel Rushman, CEO of Rushmans, the event’s presenting sponsors, said: “It is a fundamental but hugely complex area and we are delighted to have such a high-level team of expert speakers to share their knowledge. Equally important is the quality of the delegates who includes delegations from Olympic candidate cities, major sports leagues and federations, host cities, civic authorities and the intelligence and police services.”
Further details of the programme, speakers, exhibition and a current list of confirmed participants are available at www.sportssecuritysummit.com
