2011 National Sports Security Conference to Include Risk Mitigation Forum
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 04:05pm | By: Van Arnold
A comprehensive forum discussion on risk management will kick off the 2011 National Sport Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition set for Aug. 2-4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, La.
The second annual conference is sponsored by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi. More than 400 security professional are expected to attend the conference which will include approximately 56 vendor exhibits.
The theme for this year's conference is “Sport Safety and Security, a New Game.” The national forum discussion titled, “Mitigating Risk and Controlling Safety and Security Cost,” is a new addition to the packed program. Attorney Brian Finch, a partner with law firm Dickstein Shapiro, will serve as the forum's moderator.
“I think this is a critical discussion,” said Finch. “Many people focus on aspects of security, but this conference, the panel, and the work of NCS4 is unique and critical in terms of providing an overall picture of risks and developing a strategy to prepare for incidents of any size.”
NCS4 Director Dr. Lou Marciani notes that a significant objective of the conference is to address a major issue facing the sport safety and security industry. Few issues/factors could be deemed more crucial than mitigating risk.
“This interactive forum will look at risk assessment and analysis, address the need for risk assessments at venues, identify threats and eliminating or reducing vulnerabilities to help mitigate risk at sport events,” said Marciani. “It is a matter of how one prepares, responds and recovers to mitigate the consequences of emergencies at sporting events.”
Established in 2006, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security was created to provide an interdisciplinary academic environment to further increase sport security awareness, improve sport security policies and procedures and enhance emergency response through evacuation, recovery operations and crowd management training.
Last year's inaugural national conference drew a sellout crowd to New Orleans and featured keynote addresses by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell and Department of Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano.
For more information about NCS4 and the national conference call 601.266.6183 or visit www.NCS4.com/conference