Portugal has a rich history of planning and organizing major events, and some of the most notable were the Expo 98 and the European Football Championship 2004 (Euro 2004), with these events demonstrating Portugal's great capacity to successfully host large-scale events, where security has been exemplary.
Rogério COPETO
Colonel of the GNR
Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
Preparing for the Expo 98 required a lot of planning effort, from the design of the space to the construction of the infrastructures, having built several thematic pavilions, venues for shows and cultural events, in addition to leisure and catering areas, contributing to the revitalization of Lisbon's riverside area.
The success of the Expo 98 it was remarkable, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world and putting Portugal at the center of international attention, having been widely praised for its remarkable security and for Portugal's ability to host such a large-scale event with excellence.
To receive the euro 2004, Portugal once again demonstrated its capacity for planning and organization, taking advantage of the opportunity to renovate existing stadiums and build new ones, in order to meet the highest international standards of safety and comfort, investments were also made in transport infrastructure, security and accommodation for visitors.
About Euro 2004 it was a great success in terms of organization and sport, where the quality of stadiums, the hospitality of the Portuguese and the festive atmosphere in all host cities impressed football fans, who visited Portugal and once again praised for the high levels of security at the event.
Both the Expo 98, like the euro 2004, were shop windows for Portugal, allowing the country to show the world its capacities in planning and organization, where security reached the heights of excellence, serving as an example to follow.
To plan the Lisbon World Youth Day in 2023 (WYD), Portuguese authorities should consider lessons learned, of these events, that took place in Portugal, but they must also take into account those that resulted from other WYDs, especially those from Madrid in 2011, as an event of great magnitude, involving more than a million young people from different parts of the world, which requires careful planning and adequate security measures to ensure the success and safety of all participants.
So, and with regard to WYD security, a comprehensive assessment of potential risks should be carried out, including security threats, this analysis should take into account the location, the size of the event, the expected participants and other relevant factors.
Start planning well in advance, in order to ensure that all security measures are properly implemented, being fundamental to anticipate and deal with possible risks, and should include the assessment and definition of high-risk areas, as meeting points, main event locations, accommodation and travel for pilgrims.
Planning should also provide for coordination and definition between all institutions involved, namely Security Forces and Services, Civil protection, Armed forces, Information Services and others, aiming to establish a strong coordination between the different entities responsible for security, in its different domains, where sharing relevant information and coordinating efforts will help ensure an effective response to any emergency situation.
Implement crowd tracking measures, identifying areas of high concentration of people, providing safe routes for participants to travel, ensuring that the capacity of sites is respected and avoiding crowding that could lead to dangerous situations, as well as all locations where events will take place must be previously screened and receive adequate security measures, how to identify entry points, exit and emergency evacuation, must be used for video surveillance cameras, drones and other technologies.
Establish clear and efficient communication channels for sharing information with all participants, volunteers and the general public, can be done through a mobile application dedicated exclusively to WYD, beyond text messages, without forgetting social networks and other means of communication.
Ensure that all elements linked to WYD security, including volunteers are properly trained, trained and qualified to deal with different emergency situations, including in your training, basic life support and crowd control.
International cooperation is essential and aims to establish cooperation and information sharing with security institutions and authorities in other countries, who have experience organizing similar events, where the exchange of good practices and lessons learned can help improve WYD security planning.
Keep everyone involved up-to-date on current security threats and adjust security measures as they evolve, priority should be given to the collection of information, especially in open sources, in addition to those collected by all security elements and found on the ground, In real time, enabling continuous risk analysis and adapting the security plan according to ever-changing circumstances.
These are just some general measurements., because each event has its own characteristics, that should be considered when planning the security of a mega event, what will WYD be like, it is essential that the Portuguese authorities work in close collaboration, to ensure a safe and successful event, so by adopting these measures, WYD will have all the conditions to be a success, providing a safe and unforgettable experience for all young participants, believing it will be a success, like all other major events previously held in Portugal.
