ICSS joins hands with UNOCT, UNICRI, and the OAS to provide technical assistance to Chile ahead of Santiago 2023 Pan American Games

The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and its partners the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) along with Organization of American States (OAS) convened a kick-off meeting to provide technical assistance for Chile on sport security.

The meeting which took place in Santiago, Chile on 9-11 August, brought together representatives from the Chile Olympic Committee, (COCH) the National Police, security planners for the Pan American Games 2023 and other entities. It comes within the ongoing preparations for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, the first Pan American Games ever held in the South American nation, taking place from October 20 to November 5 in the capital of Santiago.

During the three-day meeting, partners have discussed International, regional and national best practices and a joint needs analysis was conducted, paving the way for future integrated workshops and training in preparation for the Games. This significant step forward is part of the implementation of the Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events (MSE)and the Promotion of Sport and its Values to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) launched by UNOCT, ICSS, UNICRI and the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and the official participation of UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and INTERPOL.

The Global Programme is aimed at strengthening the protection of MSE through enhanced international cooperation and sustainable security approaches while promoting the values of sport as a powerful means to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism.

Dale Sheehan Director, Capacity Building and Executive Education of the ICSS, said: “This event is a unique and timely opportunity to start providing a range of technical assistance to Chile, the host country of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, through the transfer, adaptation, mobilization and utilization of skills, knowledge and technology in sport security and the use of sport to provide violent
extremism.

Since its inception in February 2020, the Global Programme' s partners provided assistance in this field to several UN member states such as Cameroun, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Maldives. We are committed now more than ever to continue to collaborate closely to support our mission.”