The most important initiatives regarding the safety of mass events were discussed at the meeting, including:
- experiences from organising the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris,
- actions planned to ensure the safety of the Winter Olympic Games in Italy,
- the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The discussion on changes in the Council of Europe document – the Saint-Denis Convention, which is a key document regarding the safety of mass events was a very important part of the meeting.
The participation of representatives of the University of Lodz in this meeting is a part of the activities of the Biohazard Prevention Centre at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, which implements international projects concerning the protection of public spaces, including sports facilities. Hence the direct invitation to Prof. Michał Bijak and mgr Karolina Tomczyk to participate in the meeting.
The debate made it possible to confront the team’s previous experiences with the challenges and best practices used in securing public places and organising the world’s biggest sporting events.
Source and photos: dr hab. Michał Bijak, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz
Edit: Kamila Knol-Michałowska, Promotion Centre of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz