The Risks of Event Management - Essay Example

Introduction Event management not only requires basic components to ensuring that there is the ability to meet the needs of those that are a part of a specific event. More importantly, is the need to assess the potential risks that are a part of each of the areas of an event, as well as how this applies to the events that occur over a specific period of time. Using a risk management model can help to predetermine some of the potential threats that are a part of an event as well as how this may affect the success of an event. The Olympic Games is one of the events that can be assessed when looking at the performance and needs of risk management for an event. This multinational event can help to determine not only basic risk management needs for events, but also provides insight into the specialized problems and risks that come with sporting events that are held at a multinational level. Relevant Literature and Theories Defining risk management for different events is one that is essential for the success of any event. The first aspect of this is known as quantitative risk management, which is understood by how much risk is at a specific event, as well as how different organizations should respond to this. Measuring the amount of risk through political and sociological concepts can provide a broader understanding of the preparation that needs to take place as well as how one can respond to this. Models that are known to assist with the risk management are able to create thresholds, which defines how much an organization needs to prepare without moving over the needed components of the models. The mixture of security measures that are taken are then able to create a better understanding of what is needed with the event to create an elimination of potential risks (McNeil et al, 7, 2005). To effectively reach the quantitative analysis of an event is the need to understand the various factors that create risk. For instance, if the event includes a multinational component, then this will need to be a part of the risk management process. By doing this, there will be the ability to create a strategic model that will affect the way that the event is approached. The risks will then define the event through the organizing committee, stakeholders of an event and the individuals that are participating in the event either as athletes or as audience members. Creating best practices that are a part of an event and making sure that safety, security and avoidance are a part of the risk management can help to create a different response from those that are participating in the event and can provide a stronger outcome for those that are able to respond to the requirements that are a part of the risks of a sporting event (Leopkey, Parent, 2009). Berlonghi (1990) began to define the concepts of risk by creating an understanding of the proper safety measures and preparation, which creates the responses from a specific event. He stated that there is a domino affect that relates to the different individuals that are in an event. The first part to this is the cause of loss, which includes safety or security measures that are overlooked and which are not met by the event management or organizational committee. As soon as the cause of loss occurs, there are specific circumstances that relate to the downfall of the rest of the event and which creates a continuous loss that is in the different arenas of the event. This includes unsafe physical conditions, individual errors, inadequate management, poor planning and out of control energy. If one of these circumstances occur, then the other circumstances will follow for the complete domino effect of an event, leading to an environment that is considered as hazardous and unsafe (Tassiopoulos, 2000). To understand the components of risk is also the need to analyze different components of a game. An area of risk that has to be identified is the sociological approach to a game. To be secure in specific games, there is the need to create an understanding of how the sports individuals will respond as well as how fans will respond that are watching the game. Sports violence, aggressive behaviors and dimensions of competition and abuse should all be considered when looking at the components of risk management. Many have also found that the sociological approach also includes the coverage from the media and the way in which they create responses from the individuals and the fans that are a part of the event. As the media creates a specific level of interest and apathy, the more likely there will be a response from the crowd that is based on the specific behaviors and aggressiveness. To create a different relation to this, there is the need to focus on the sociological expectations and responses and to create policies, regulations and safety measures that surround the understanding of the ignorance that is a part of each of the games (Atkinson, Young, 2002). A second aspect that is related to the understanding and awareness of different games is based on the agendas of politics. The awareness that has to be created and measured against by those that are organizing multinational events becomes essential to the focus of the games and the way that they are related to when looking at specific occurrences within events. The precautionary principles that are set for this relate to enhanced measures of security that are able to provide different levels of understanding and knowledge to what may occur. More importantly, the precautionary principles are designed to create sets of principles and trends that move against the ability for political agendas to be reached. Terrorism, ant – political movements, globalization and different types of individuals that would want to meet political agendas all have to be looked into before starting an event, specifically to create higher levels of security within a sporting event. The security has to be inclusive of technology, policies and procedures that can regulate the crowds that are within a region (Kennelly, Toohey, 2007). Risk Management Model Managing the planning, organization, directing and control of different venues is one that will stop both types of risk and will create a higher level of protection for those that are liable to those that are at the event. This includes the ability to meet the basic needs as well as the option of creating a higher level of response systems that will prevent the accidents from occurring. A risk management model that shows this aspect is the risk cognition tree (see Appendix A). In this specific model, it shows that the basis of the risk is from the ignorance of the organizational committee or those that are in charge of the event. When awareness grows, it branches from the ignorance and divides into two components, which includes interest and apathy. To prevent risk, these have to be met with caution, safeguards and paralysis. If they are not met, then it can lead to inactivity and paralysis, which will eventually lead to the problems with event management (Silvers, 2008). To move into the specific component of cognitive planning for security and the risk assessment used, is also the need to create a response system that prevents the political and sociological responses that will occur. The strategic management will enhance the prevention that is used. This includes the ability to analyze the different components that are a part of an event then to make a choice over what to focus on in terms of the security and enhancement of a specific event. The third part to this is the implementation of different procedures, processes and policies that will help to create high levels of security. The analysis that is used is one that enhances the sociological understanding, political events and internal structure with management and security (Cieslak, 2009). Analysis One of the events that can be associated with this specific aspect is the Olympic Games. This is an international event that is based around the athletics of different countries and creates strong competition between various nations, similar to the Olympics. The games are held every four years, with the main focus being on the strongest athletes that can compete in various fields. The first contemporary Olympic Games were held in 1796 in France as a revival of the ancient Greek Olympics. After 1890, the Olympics revived into international phenomena that showed the strength of individual and team athletes. The division of this particular event has divided into several subcategories of the game, including the Paralympics and youth Olympic Games. To continue with these games, an International Olympic Committee is designated to find the space and time for the games to be held, with divisions in both winter and summer challenges. The Committee is also designated to place the ads, commercialization and media into place for efficiency of the games (Olympics, 2010). When looking at the various aspects of this game, it can be seen that there is the need to create a specific level of security from the way that the event was created. The first level of this is through the sociological representation of different countries. The multi – level games that have been created, youth events as well as the international competitions are all associated with the sociological awareness that is needed for this particular event. The organizational committee will need to respond to the Olympic Games by creating an understanding of the divisions of individuals who will participate in the games. The first level to this is those that are looking at supporting international teams and which will have a specific association with the media because of the support that they have for their team. This is combined with youth responses and Paralympics that need to be incorporated into the summer and winter organization. The second aspect that can be looked into with the Commonwealth Games is the political associations that are related to the games. The next games will be held in London in 2012 with the youth Olympics being held in Singapore in 2010. The security that is based around this includes political understandings of the environment that is a part of this. Terrorism and political relations are some of the components that are a part of this, with athletes and fans having a base not only in the events of the sports, but also of terrorism and risks associated with current tensions. To move with the security measures needed, international trains and methods of transportation are being cut off to the games. Instead, there will be alternative ways to get individuals to the Olympics, with regulations that will need to comply with the Freedom of Information Act. More importantly, new developments for other routes to the Olympics are being developed to provide enhanced security to the games (Harrison, 2010). When applying the cognitive tree model to the concept of terrorism, it can be seen that there are several levels that need to be applied. The first part to the cognitive tree is to create a level of awareness that has to be created for protection is one that has to redefine the level of threats that are a part of the games as well as the needed response that is a part of this. This leads into the caution and safeguards that are a part of the risk management tree can provide the best association with the games and what is needed for security. More importantly, the awareness has to include the sociological and the political responses that will need to be created with this will provide a deeper understanding and explanation of what is needed with the games. The second set of steps that are a part of this are based on the cautionary and safeguards that are presented from the model. The area is required to develop more areas for security and for the enhancement and security of the games. More importantly, the safeguards that are being implemented are not guaranteed to create a specific association with the sociological and political responses that may occur from the Olympic Games. Policies, procedures and responses through cautionary measures will need to be completed not only with the remodeling of the infrastructure but also with the components of the sociological development during the games through the organizational committee. The Olympic games are doing this with terrorist measures by enhancing security and building alternative roads in London to create a higher level of safeguards that protect the athletes and media from terrorism. The requirements to get into the games are combined with this with security measures such as check – in points and identification measures for the games (Isenberg, 2010). The next steps that are a part of the cognitive tree model are based on some of the areas that create awareness but have a lack of response. Inactivity, apathy and paralysis are a part of these components. The Olympic Committee, while taking specific measures against terrorism, has some areas of awareness in which they can’t implement for the games. In relation to the cognitive tree model, the paralysis leads to the inability to take specific actions. For the Olympic Games to be successful, there is an understanding that some unknown actions or variables may take place in relation to the event. Terrorists may find other ways and unknown methods to get into the game or cause different activities and occurrences. For the management to respond to this there is the need to enhance security with continuous management and activity. This will prevent any inactivity or actions from occurring that are unexpected. Conclusion and Recommendations The Olympic Games is one that can improve based on the needs that are a part of a specific area. The current security measures and precautionary steps that are being taken for these games are altering the influence of the games and the impact of having multinational games. Even though the current games in London are focused on a changed infrastructure for security measures, there are also missing components that are a part of this. Changing the focus to the culture of the area, as well as the political tensions will help to provide new levels of security and will organize the structure in a different manner. The result will be enhanced security that will stop threats of terrorism and political agendas. More importantly, it will focus on the needs of the different sociological structures, including the fan bases from a multinational perspective and from the ability to create different incorporations of a multinational base that is neutral and friendly. The concept of risk management and the association that is a part of the different sporting events from a multinational level is one that is able to change the capabilities of different games. The awareness of what is needed on a sociological and political level can help to define what security measures need to be taken. Combining this with an understanding of what type of environment to create can also provide enhanced levels of security. To be effective in areas of event management is also the need to create a specific association with the different levels of security that need to be implemented during the event. References Atkinson, Michael, Kevin Young. (2002). Terror Games: Media Treatment of Security Issues at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The International Journal of Olympic Studies. (XI). Olympics. (2010). Official Website of the Olympic Movement. Retrieved from: http://www.olympic.org/. Cieslak, Thomas. (2009). Match Day Security at Australian Sport Stadia: A Case Study of Eight Venues. Event Management (13). Harrison, Sian. (2010). Olympics: No International Trains for 2012. The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/8185260.OLYMPICS__No_international_trains_for_2012/. Isenberg, David. (2010). The Olympics Will be Protected by Aegis: Ay, There’s the Rub. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-isenberg/the-olympics-will-be-prot_b_585752.html. Kennelly, Millicent, Kristine Tooley. (2007). Terrorism and the Olympics: The Games Have Gone On. Sporting Traditions (24). Leopkey, Becca, Milena Parent. (2009). Risk Management Strategies by Stakeholders in Canadian Major Sporting Events. Event Management (13). McNeil, Alexander, Rudger Frey, Paul Embrechts. (2005). Quantitative Risk Management: Concepts, Techniques and Tools. New York: Routledge. Regan, Mick. (2008). The Sports Factor: Rings of Security. ABC Radio National. Silvers, Julia. (2008). Risk Management for Meetings and Events. UK: Elsevier. Tassiopoulos, Dimitri. (2000). Event Management: a Professional and Developmental Approach. New York: Landsowne Publishing. Appendix A Read More