ICSS's Securing Sport 2020 Kicks Off

Doha, December 02 (QNA) - The four-day conference Securing Sport virtual edition 2020 organized by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) under the theme 'Building Resilience in an Ever-Changing World' kicked off on Tuesday. Securing Sport brings together international and national decision-makers, eminent experts and gives a voice to stakeholders across sectors with the aim of inspiring collective action and identifying solutions to enhance the safety, security and integrity of sport, while protecting its societal values Chairman of the ICSS Mohammed bin Hanzab delivered the opening speech of the seventh international conference, while journalist Reena Ninan moderated the first session of the conference's day 1 entitled 'Safeguarding Sport in the Post-COVID-19 Era'. In his opening remarks, the ICSS Chairman welcomed the participants and speakers from all over the world. Since the launch of the first edition of the International Conference on Sports Security in Aspire Academy in Doha in 2011, many editions were held in global capitals and cities, including London, New York and Washington, until this edition of the global event that is held virtually due to the repercussions of the Coronavirus currently sweeping the world, he said. "We are here to openly discuss what the future of sport will look like in a new social and economic scenario shaped by COVID19 with or without a vaccine, with or without masks. It is our duty to investigate and anticipate all possible scenarios," he said. The ICSS Chairman added that there is no definitive answer to any of these questions at the present time, whether from a scientific or political perspective, but it is our duty in any case to investigate, discuss and carefully consider all available scenarios and this is what will be discussed by the International Conference on Sports Security. He wished the participants success in this conference, expressing his belief that the event will come out with new conclusions that mimic the logic imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic on the present and future of global sport. CEO of the ICSS Massimiliano Montanari said the conference is about the present and future, from major sporting events to grassroots sports. It is about informing policy and decision makers on ways to protect people, values and opportunities sport can generate in the socio-economic context across nations, he added. Journalist Reena Ninan moderated the first session that discussed in depth the future of sport in light of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The session's participants were President of SportAccord Raffaele Chiulli, the The International Automobile Federation (FIA) Deputy President Graham Stoker, Marcos Diaz, representing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Chairperson of the Bureau of the seventh session of the Conference of Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport of UNESCO, along with FIFA's Chief Social Responsibility and Education Officer Joyce Cook. While thanking the ICSS for hosting him on their panel 'Safeguarding Sport in the post COVID19 Era' as part of Securing Sport2020, President of SportAccord Raffaele Chiulli said it was a pleasure to discuss the changes, challenges and threats to sport plus the opportunities sport can generate in a post-COVID-19 world. For her part, FIFA's Chief Social Responsibility and Education Officer Joyce Cook reviewed the steps taken by FIFA when the Coronavirus crisis surfaced in the world, pointing to FIFA's cooperation with the World Health Organization in this regard and its provision of substantial financial assistance, as well as carrying out a large-scale awareness campaign. She also reviewed FIFA initiatives in the field of social responsibility to serve football and players around the world. She thanked the Qatari authorities for canceling the sponsorship system, revealing that they are in FIFA in constant contact with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), and there is cooperation for more in the field of improving labor conditions in the stadiums and facilities of the World Cup (Qatar 2022), adding that the FIFA works closely with the SC in the area of capacity building in hotels, in the field of security and in all areas related to organization. Held under the title 'Building Resilience in an Ever-Changing World', Securing Sport is an international and multisectoral conference, which was conceived to serve as a platform for discussions about the changes, challenges and threats to sport and the opportunities sport can generate in the socio-economic context. In a series of digital events - Policy Dialogues, Expert Debates and Youth Interventions hosted by the ICSS initiative Save the Dream - set against a virtual stage backdrop, the panels will analyze some of the most pressing current challenges facing the world of sport and address global challenges, international approaches and ways to further strengthen multisectoral cooperation. (END)