USM’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Signs International Training Agreemen

This is a press release from USM.

DOHA, QATAR - During the Milipol Qatar 2018 Exhibition on October 29-31, 2018, the The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) and INTERPOL, signed a training cooperation agreement with the State of Qatar, represented by the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

“In conjunction with INTERPOL Project Stadia, the training program will meet the requirements of Qatar and respond to the needs related to security for the 2022 World Cup,” said NCS4 Director Lou Marciani. “It is designed to enhance knowledge and encourage innovation, to turn training into operational practice for international sporting events.”

The 2022 FIFA World Cup™ will take place in Qatar beginning November 21 and attract approximately 1.4 million visitors including 32 nations, and will take place over 64 games within 8 different stadiums.

The police capacity building training program will include a comprehensive training package for law enforcement officials and will cover important topics such as risk management, crowd management, incident management, evacuation, and other protective actions. The training program will include the following courses (all geared for major international sporting events): Senior Management, Risk Management, Evacuation Challenges, Crowd Management, Incident Management, and Case Management.

Beginning in the fall of 2020, police executives and incident management team members who complete all six courses may be eligible to earn the International Sport Safety and Security Professional Certificate, a first of its kind certificate program in the realm of major event security.

“It was great for this agreement to be signed with Qatar, which will be the first INTERPOL member country to receive all six courses of the joint Project Stadia and NCS4 training program on a bi-lateral basis, said Senior Manager of the Stadia Project, Falah Abdullah Al Dosari.

“This program will make a significant contribution to Qatar's preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ with all officers that successfully complete the program to receive the International Professional Certificate for Sports Safety and Security. This also strengthens our partnership with NCS4 and we look forward to assisting other countries to build their capabilities to deliver effective major event safety and security. It's legacy we will be proud of in 2022 and beyond.”