National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum set for Dec. 8-9
Wed, 11/04/2020 - 09:14am | By: Sara Priebe
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will host the seventh annual National
Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum on Dec. 8-9, 2020, in a LIVE
virtual format.
Road races and other participatory sports events attract large numbers of athletes and spectators, making safety and security a top priority for race organizers, public safety, and host communities. These high-profile events give rise to a host of potential risks and threats that must be addressed to ensure the safety and security of people, property, and infrastructure.
“The importance of the NCS4 Marathon and Endurance Events Forum, now more than ever is a means for all participants to share ideas, expand skills, and improve qualifications,” said Todd S. Metro, Senior Manager, Safety & Security, New York Road Runners – New York City Marathon. “As local, state, and federal regulations during the global pandemic become more demanding for mass gathering events, the topics covered will focus on information sharing, collaboration, and finite decision making thus making the Forum another great ‘tool in the tool box’ for sporting event production professionals and our various partners.”
In addition to keynote speakers and panel presentations, attendees will participate in moderated discussions and mini-exercise workshops. The small group discussions and case study analyses will take attendees through a deep-dive examination of specific topics relevant to running and endurance events. The workshop-style sessions will focus on problem-solving, lessons learned and moving forward.
“Marathon and endurance events have been impacted worldwide with events being canceled, postponed, or transitioned to a virtual format. This year, participants will hear from decision-makers and the planning factors considered while making important business decisions. We will cover topics that are at the forefront of this industry’s mind, including civil unrest, organizational resilience, the use of drones, and vehicle intrusion prevention,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS4 Director and College of Business and Economic Development Sport Management Professor at The University of Southern Mississippi. “A unique offering will be a table-top exercise utilizing the latest technology and tools to ensure our attendees obtain a hands-on learning experience.”
The target audience for the event includes event administrators and staff from marathons, half-marathons, 10K, 5K, and endurance events, local and state law enforcement, government officials, emergency managers, fire, HAZMAT, emergency medical services, city planners, governing bodies, and sports commissions.
“As we continue to navigate these challenging and uncertain times, we need to come together as an industry to support the return of in-person events. A critical aspect of our return to racing is a comprehensive and scalable strategy to address a wide range of potential scenarios facing our events,” said Michael Nishi, Chicago Event Management’s Chief Operating Officer. “With the absence of in-person events, many of our organizations will face event production atrophy. This forum is a great opportunity to understand what needs to be considered in order to prepare and condition our teams as we look to the future.”
Pricing for attendees is $49 for NCS4 Connect members and $69 for non-members. Those who sign up for a NCS4 Connect membership by Dec. 7 will receive a free registration for the Forum. Limited space available. Visit ncs4.usm.edu/marathon to register for the event or for additional information.
Only corporations that are sponsors of the event may attend the Forum. Corporations interested in participating as a Sponsor may contact sara.priebeFREEMississippi.
About NCS4:
Established in 2006, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports and entertainment safety and security. The NCS4 is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and its mission centers around three key pillars – Research, Training and Education, and Outreach. For more information about NCS4, call 601.266.6183 or visit ncs4.usm.edu.