VOC ENSURING SPECTATOR SAFETY

BY LYNDON JULIUS

SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA has been severely impacted by COVID-19 lockdown regulations and restrictions being enforced on sports events. The return of sports matches in the country was accompanied by many changes to what was perceived as the norm, not the least being events held with no spectators allowed inside the stadium or near the sports field. UWC Sport used this lockdown period to upgrade the playing surface and transform the VIP/Media section of the UWC Stadium into a world-class facility that will allow us to welcome and host amateur, semi-pro and even professional teams. The playing surface has been upgraded to meet the FIFA standards for professional football matches. Along with these changes, the Venue Operating Centre (VOC), which acts as the control centre for stadium events, was also upgraded. Glen Bentley, UWC Sport Administration Support Services Manager and manager of the UWC Athletics Club, manages the UWC long-distance and marathon athletes. Bentley knows all too well the key roles played by the VOC and its importance to the athletes, players, coaches, management and even the vaccinated supporters who are now allowed to attend the sporting events.

“The VOC is a very important part of every home game and also events that UWC hosts in and around the sports facilities,” Bentley says. “There are so many things that need to be in place and with COVID also thrown into the mix, all possible scenarios must be considered when it comes to safety,” Bentley says.

UNSEEN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC and student spectators, a lot of effort and energy are invested in ensuring a sports event is played in a safe, controlled environment. Bentley says, “The police will send a senior police officer well in advance of when the event is being staged so that we can get the correct grading in terms of safety and the size of the event. The police will do the grading of the event and based on this grading, a certificate will be issued which will then activate the next role-players. The ambulance and medical emergency response teams are set up as well. We have security personnel in and around the stadium, over and above the everyday campus security staff.

“WE DO NOT PLAY AROUND WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE’S SAFETY. All these are put in place so that when an incident happens, for example, a section of the stadium collapses, plans for evacuation and exit points are already laid out and every role-player is aware of their duties during a catastrophic event.

“Security cameras are streamed to the VOC where the police and security company representatives and myself will keep an eye on the camera feed to try and pick up on anything out of the ordinary and hopefully be proactive enough to prevent anyone from being harmed.

“It is always great when the VOC at the UWC Stadium is running so smoothly and effectively. But I do want to encourage everyone attending live sport or any event for that matter, to be on the lookout for anything suspicious that might cause harm to those in the stadium. Even if they see a part of the structure [building] that looks like it could break or crash, report it immediately.

“I WANT EVERYONE TO ENJOY LIVE SPORTS, especially those who will be enjoying it here at the newly upgraded Operation Room. We live in an age where everything goes on social media first before being reported, and I do understand that, but reporting something before thinking of making it ‘go viral’ could just save someone’s life.”

Bentley urges spectators to always be vigilant and mindful of keeping themselves and the next person safe, to again enjoy the live sport we have been deprived of attending for so long.

We do not play around when it comes to people’s safety.

- GLEN BENTLEY