A team of experts led by CAF Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa, took part in the United Nations (UN) Office of Counter-Terrorism’s International Experts Group virtual meeting held on Wednesday, 15 July 2020, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the security of major sporting events.

The one-day meeting organised within the framework of the UN Global Programme on Security of major sporting events, and promotion of sports and its values as a tool to prevent violent extremism analysed the effect of the novel Coronavirus on sporting events of international interest or dimension including from a terrorism prevention perspective.

The objectives of the session organised in partnership with United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS) include;

Help shape the UN Global Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events, Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies to be finalized during the summer as part of the UN Global Programme to serve as a core reference for technical assistance related to the security planning of major sporting events

Path the way for the implementation of activities, from conferences to capacity building, aimed at enhancing global understanding on how COVID-19 is impacting the security of major sporting events and identifying ways to optimise the use of available resources. Identify possible new vulnerabilities of major sporing events from a security and counter-terrorism perspective but also new opportunities in the framework of the new international scenario generated by COVID-19.

According to Dr Emeruwa, CAF was provided with an opportunity to share the outcome of “our recently organized safety and security COVID-19 review meeting that was held on 2 July 2020”.

He made a detailed presentation highlighting the need for integrated Safety, Security, and Health protocols for football organization and resumption in Africa.

CAF Safety and Security Officers and National Safety and Security Officers of the affiliated Member Associations were among the 300 participants in the one-day meeting which also had representatives from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Paris 2024 Olympic Games, INTERPOL, World Health Organization (WHO), Council of Europe and CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).