Risk Assessment for Sports and Entertainment Venues Paper Example

How often should a risk assessment be conducted for a sport or entertainment venue?

Fuller, Junge and Dvorak (2011) explains that risk assessment should be conducted frequently for sports and entertainment venues. The primary reason for the frequent assessment is that these are venues where many people converge and spend time in supporting their favorite sports teams. Various stakeholders of the government spend a lot of time in these venues as part of planning for the events. Their objectives are to identify, analyze and manage the numerous possible risks that are likely to take place in these venues (Fuller, Junge & Dvorak, 2011). These risks are usually associated with such significant events in the entertainment and sports venues. Failure to conduct, analyze and manages the various possible risks would lead to substantial injuries and also the loss of lives of the spectators, employees, and vendors and also event participants. There are multiple risks which spectators may fail to consider as they attend such events. About the Louisiana Superdome sports event of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the various stakeholders identified the risks using various means. They conducted risk assessment frequently before the main event, and they set up measures to ensure that everything is in place.

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The case study suggests that security preparations had been ongoing since 1997. The management in conjunction with governmental agencies conducted surveys of possible attendees, various inspections of Louisiana Superdome stadium, interviewing employees and also seeking help from various experts in the field. Conducting frequent risk assessment enables the officials to recognize and control possible threats in the sports venue (Fuller, Junge & Dvorak, 2011). It also helps the stakeholders to create awareness among the various people involved in the sporting activity. Frequent risk assessment allows for the reduction of possible incidents that would occur in the sporting or entertainment venue. It would also save costs by being proactive instead of being reactive.

Is information developed during risk assessment confidential to the facility and security personnel?

Peltier (2010) supports the fact that information developed during risk assessment should be treated with utmost confidentiality. There should be close coordination between the federal, state and the local officials to ensure that the information obtained during risk assessment remains secret to avoid leakage to terrorist attackers. Confidentiality provides resiliency capabilities. It also reduces the possibility of exposure to civil and criminal liability in the event of a terrorist attack or any other form of risk. Breach of confidentiality would threaten the effective execution of the risk management. Breach of confidentiality of risk assessment information would help the terrorist attackers to use the information to plan for new attacks. It would give them leeway for launching new strategies which are contrary to the risk assessment stakeholders. Breach of confidentiality would also interfere with the systems, assets, and networks of sports arenas. Breach of confidentiality also would not enable the identification of security gaps to come up with recommended corrective actions. However, there is a need to maintain appropriate confidentiality of tendering organization that is mandated to conduct t and manages the possible risks.

On a different note, there is a need to enable people involved in the sporting activity to have access to the same information obtained from risk assessment at the right time. The information that can be shared in this case is the one related to mitigation measures to the possible security threat. Probity refers to integrity, honesty, and uprightness. It also involves adopting an ethical approach (Peltier, 2010). The facility and security personnel ought to employ probity since the breach of confidentiality creates opportunities for domestic and international terrorism. The case study pointed out that terrorist groups continue to view popular sports and entertainment venues as potential targets of attacks.

Should the media be involved in the risk assessment process/? Why or why not?

Involving the media in the risk assessment process is essential. However, strong measures should be taken to ensure that the media do not air the information concerning the risk assessment process. Bennett, Calman, Curtis and Fischbacher-Smith (2010) identify the critical role in risk assessment and disaster management. It acts as a link between the public and the emergency organizations, sports facility and the security personnel. The media also plays an essential role in disseminating vital information to the public before, during and after the sporting activity.

If the media is involved in the risk assessment process, it will be able to educate the public on the possible dangers. The media can also issue warnings of potential threats and gather relevant information concerning the affected areas of the sports facility and transmit it appropriately (Bennett, Calman, Curtis & Fischbacher-Smith, 2010). The media also alerts government officials and other various stakeholders and also facilitates discussions on risk assessment and response to possible threats.

If the media is involved in risk assessment and risk management process, it will ensure that the right information reaches the right person at the right time. It is imperative to warn people about pending disasters or possible sports threats. In the event of emergencies, the media issues alerts and warnings to people. The media should, therefore, be involved in the risk assessment process. It is crucial to set strategies and techniques to enhance the flow of accurate and timely information to prevent a breach of confidentiality which can pose as a security threat (Bennett, Calman, Curtis & Fischbacher-Smith, 2010).

References

Bennett, P., Calman, K., Curtis, S., & Fischbacher-Smith, D. (Eds.). (2010). Risk communication and public health. Oxford University Press.

Fuller, C. W., Junge, A., & Dvorak, J. (2011). Risk management: FIFA's approach for protecting the health of football players. Br J Sports Med, bjsports-2011.

Peltier, T. R. (2010). Information security risk analysis. Auerbach publications.