On safety during UEFA EURO 2012
A delegation of experts from the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches (T-RV) visited Poland on November 15-18, 2010. This was a consultation visit concerning the safety of UEFA EURO 2012TM.
Representatives of the Standing Committee (T-RV) discussed the safety of the UEFA EURO 2012TM Championship with Polish organizers in the office the Polish Olympic Committee. They met, inter alia, with Tomasz Półgrabski, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Adam Rapacki, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, with representatives of the Polish Football Association, the company EURO 2012 Polska, and with the police.
The main subject of the discussions was how to provide high quality stewarding so as to increase the safety of all football fans during matches.
During the discussion, Undersecretary Tomasz Półgrabski pointed to numerous initiatives of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, including the construction of Orlik sports fields for children and youth and preventive programmes for football supporters which will undoubtedly have a positive indirect impact on the safety of the tournament.
Undersecretary Adam Rapacki stressed the significance of the changes concerning safety resulting from the new Act on mass events security. The Act defines clearly the obligations and rights of match organizers as concerns security of the supporters and athletes. According to the new Act, the organizer is responsible for security. The organizer’s information and security services (stewards) are to play a particularly important role. Undersecretary Rapacki also underlined the role of the Sports Events Security Council in coordinating the preparations of all the services and institutions responsible for security during the championship.
On November 17th 2010, the representatives of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events visited the Poznań Stadium where they watched a friendly match between Poland and Ivory Coast and checked the security measures at the stadium, which is one of UEFA EURO 2012TM venues.
The Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events is chaired by Paulo Gomes, who was responsible for security during the European Football Championship in Portugal in 2004 and who now shared his experience with Polish organizers. The delegation also included Ana Criado Conteras, Elisa Cozza, Pierre Masson, Martin Girvan and Kenneth Scott.
The activities of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events (T-RV) are focused on the development of regulations that will oblige event organizers to take maximum precautions and allow spectators to watch matches in safe conditions. Issues related to security during sports events are governed by European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches (CETS No: 120).
The Committee provides guidance on how to organize a football tournament, focusing, among others, on safeguards against bringing dangerous objects, and on requirements concerning rooms for police and security services. Particular attention is paid to stewarding, fire safety, medical services and communication.