ICSS, UNOCT, UNAOC and UNICRI release Global Guide for Policy-Makers to protect Major Sporting
Events
New York, 29 June 2021 - In a major step forward in the fight to keep Major Sports Events (MSEs) safe
and secure against constantly evolving threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, the United
Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research
Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and the International Centre for
Sport Security (ICSS) launched the Global Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting
Sustainable Security & Legacies.
The launch took place in the context of the Second Counter-Terrorism Week held at the United Nations
from 21 to 30 June 2021, at the presence of high-level representatives of governments, international and
continental sport federations, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
The first-ever Guide was developed through a structured process of consultations with experts
and representatives from international organizations, sport bodies and UN Member States,
which started in March 2020.
The Guide represents one of the milestones of the "Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting
Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism", an initiative led by
the UNOCT, in partnership with UNICRI, UNAOC and the ICSS, and in consultation with the United
Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and with the contributions of
Members States, international and regional organisations such as INTERPOL and the Council of Europe,
sports associations, the business sector and academia.
The programme is supported by the State of Qatar, the People’s Republic of China through the United
Nations Peace and Development Fund (UNPDF) and the Republic of Korea.
The 195-page Guide, which will be available in all six United Nations official languages, represents a
significant step forward in the advancement of policies to mitigate risks to eventual targets in the context
of major sporting events.
As such, the Guide represents the most comprehensive in-depth analysis of the political, social, and
financial dimensions for consideration by key decision-makers for the security elements of major sporting
events to date.
Mohammed Hanzab, Chairman of ICSS, said: "This Guide crystalizes the experience of generations of
policy and decision-makers, and their visions on how to plan the security of major sporting events,
including with regard to legacy factors, sustainability and cooperation across sectors. It provides an
exhaustive overview of all the forms of support and mutual assistance available within the international
community to protect such events as a common good across nations, as a catalyst for change and a
staging area for global citizens."
Massimiliano Montanari, Chief Executive Officer of the ICSS, said: "Through the Guide, we wanted to
deliver a document able to inform and inspire all those who will be responsible for making the main
decisions on the policy reforms and structures to be put in place, the legislations to be adopted, the
international agreements to be stipulated, and the resources to be allocated to plan a successful major
sporting event and its legacy".
Finally, the Guide provides hosting nations with a reference document showcasing all the forms of
technical assistance available at the international level, as provided by international and regional
organizations such as the UN, INTERPOL, the Council of Europe and the WHO, as well as sport bodies
and specialized stakeholders like the ICSS.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS)
The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) is a global, independent and non-profit organisation. It
works tirelessly to address some of the most prominent challenges and issues facing the world of sport
today, as well as to protect it from emerging and future threats.
Having brought together respected leaders from sport, government agencies, law enforcement,
international organisations, academia and the business community, the ICSS has an established team of
experts in the fields of sport, international cooperation and event safety and security, sport integrity and
socio-economic development.
Through its services and with the support of its donors, the ICSS has been able to invest in several
pioneering initiatives to safeguard sport – from initiating the first-ever research into the scale of
manipulation of sports competitions as part of the Sorbonne-ICSS Sport Integrity Research Programme
(2012-2014), to working with the international organisations leading to the development of advanced
policies in different fields pertaining to the protection of sport – the ICSS continues to make an impact
through project expansion and building new programmes in collaboration with its partners.
For more details please visit: www.theicss.org
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