Armed soldiers patrol the streets during the 2012 London Olympics. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n
A section on security and safety risks states: \u201cHeightened geopolitical tensions have increased security concerns at sporting events, including threats of terrorism, protests and social unrest, jeopardising the safety of athletes, officials and spectators.\u201d<\/p>\n
A list of immediate actions national sports organisations should consider features an overhaul of event security, including \u201cstrengthen physical and digital safeguards for venues, data and personal\u201d.<\/p>\n
SNZ also recommended sporting bodies consider their travel and evacuation standards, suggesting \u201cformalise guidelines for high-risk regions, including emergency support systems\u201d.<\/p>\n
Talking to the Herald before he stepped down as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive late last month, Scott Weenink <\/a>welcomed SNZ\u2019s proactive stance, adding such planning was critical and an area his body already did a lot of work in.<\/p>\n That included emergency exit strategies for all its national teams on tour; something that will be worked on when the Blacks Caps travel to India and Sri Lanka<\/a> for the 2026 Men\u2019s T20 World Cup and the White Ferns to England for the 2026 Women\u2019s T20 World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is an absolute key part of all of our tour and event planning, in conjunction with our players\u2019 association,\u201d Weenink told the Herald.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere it\u2019s an ICC [International Cricket Council] event, it\u2019s obviously led by them. But we need to be comfortable … with the security plans they have in place.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do play in hotspots.\u201d<\/p>\n Geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan mean both proud cricketing nations won\u2019t play each other in their rival\u2019s home turf.<\/p>\n The stance has had Sri Lanka added as a co-host to India for the Men\u2019s T20 World Cup; with Pakistan to play their games on the South Asian island nation.<\/p>\n \u201cThat brings in huge logistical and security issues, which make it very challenging to plan for tournaments,\u201d Weenink said.<\/p>\n \u2018A fact of life\u2019<\/p>\n An international security company on retainer with NZC would also carry out an extensive security review before the Black Caps tour England and Ireland in mid-2026.<\/p>\n Any plans would then be signed off by NZC and the players\u2019 association.<\/p>\n \u201cSecurity wherever we go in the world is a huge issue and a huge concern for us,\u201d Weenink said prior to his departure.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s now just a fact of life.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the potential ramifications of geopolitics were \u201calways a huge consideration for New Zealand Cricket and for the ICC\u201d.<\/p>\n Any deals with potential sponsors included discussions around NZC\u2019s \u201capproaches to different political, cultural and social issues\u201d.<\/p>\n The issue around the moral merits of the Black Caps continuing to play Afghanistan<\/a> was discussed at every NZC board meeting.<\/p>\n The status of Afghanistan\u2019s international men\u2019s programme was also discussed at every ICC meeting since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021.<\/p>\n Like NZC, the New Zealand Olympic Committee is overseeing the selection and preparation for Kiwi teams for multiple major events to be held in 2026; the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n Former top athlete Nigel Avery<\/a> \u2013 who will again be the New Zealand team\u2019s chef de mission in Glasgow \u2013 said a huge part of event planning was ensuring all steps were taken to make sure athletes and team staff \u201care safe and return to their home base following that pinnacle event\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s our main goal. And so obviously we do take it very seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n It was a policy that had police liaison security officers being embedded with the New Zealand teams at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s really to give a heads up on anything that might be happening, that we need to be aware of … then prepare and instruct our team,\u201d Avery said.<\/p>\n Pre-competition, New Zealand team officials are briefed by police liaison staff about threat levels, with plans being put in place to \u201cmitigate\u201d any risks.<\/p>\n But Avery added: \u201cYou are never going to eliminate all risk\u201d.<\/p>\n Scaled back<\/p>\nThe Black Caps are no strangers to playing in some of the world’s hotspots. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Former New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink says the security of players and staff was always a top priority. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
A security review will be completed for the White Ferns before their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will have teams staying in hotels rather than at an athletes village. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Nigel Avery (second from right) says the scaled-back Commonwealth Games will come with a different security detail for athletes staying in hotels. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n