The Major Events Summit 2018
This June, the MEI Major Events Summit returns for its fourth edition of its annual gathering of key invited professionals involved in the major sports events industry who meet to share experience, identify ways of working together and raise the profile of their capabilities or objectives.
The event is a highly interactive, ‘non-conference’ format, with no VIPs flying in and out to deliver a keynote speech. Everybody stays for two days of workshops, round table and panel discussions. Says the organiser: “This is a great chance to form new relationships, share opportunities and insights into market trends and focus on future plans. Everyone gets the chance to be seen and heard.”
After a series of successful events at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the London Stadium and the London Aquatics Centre, MEI was asked to include the Summit as one of the nine main themes of the International Business Festival in Liverpool which covers the period June 12 – 18, 2018. The venue is the Exhibition Centre which is situated on the waterfront at the Albert Docks. This world-class centre is at the heart of one of the most vibrant, welcoming and developing cities in Europe.
A series of panels will present their future event hosting plans and sector themes, covering all key disciplines involved in supporting major sports events. One of these major themes is safety and security and how we deal with threats and risks. Major sporting events will always face last-minute problems, but it is the way organisers deal with them that will make or break them.
This year has seen several high-profile sporting events, such as the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Luckily, big events have so far ended successfully, with no known security breaches.
But the threat remains, as sporting events have been targets of terrorist attacks. During the attacks on Paris in November 2015, the Stade de France was the first venue to be targeted, while there were spectators in the stadium watching the football game. In the UK, counter-terrorism units have highlighted the severe terrorism risk to high-profile events.
It’s not just a threat to the event that can lead to safety and security risks. Nearby attacks, or attacks taking place before an event, need to be mitigated and successfully managed to prevent those attending and participating coming to harm.
The MEI Summit allows key leaders and stakeholders within safety and security and crisis management to share experience and innovative ideas to ensure that events are safe and enjoyable for all.
The pre-Summit reception allows for a smaller group of attendees to relax and network over some drinks. This year, the venue is a Liverpool classic – the Beatles Museum. The MEI Awards dinner recognises the contribution made by suppliers and event organisers in major events and that is taking place at Anfield, home to Liverpool FC on the evening of June 27.
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