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Security Planning for security has two components: 1) the public security at each venue and 2) the area located behind the stand hosting the Olympic family. The “Olympic family” basically encompasses everyone associated with the Olympics except the public. The Olympic family secure area is closed to the public and allows for circulation of restricted-access personnel to defined sections of the venue. Temporary fencing and walls are used to provide separation that will not serve as a long-term detriment to the facility. Adequate area for staging is necessary to allow for secure storage of equipment, food and beverage. Support facilities for stadium personnel and volunteers needs to be strategically located. In the case of the Olympic stadium, area must be provided for storage of equipment and theatrical props for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Queuing/Circulation The number of competition sessions that occur on an event day complicates staging of spectators. In queuing large crowds, the facility design must provide protection from the weather, provide toilets and concessions, and allow staff to control hooliganism. Perhaps, this is best illustrated by the requirements of facilitating the event schedule in the Olympic stadium. The first (morning) session is underway with a capacity crowd. The second (afternoon) session ticket holders’ must pass through security and be contained in a secured area. The first session ends and the spectators must exit from the venue in a safe manner. Once this is done, the facility staff has a short interval in which to clear rubbish and restock the food, beverage and merchandising outlets before the second session spectators enter. This is repeated for the third (evening) session. Due to the strict event timetable, a large quantity of staff is necessary to handle this demanding task.
With the exclusion of the secure area for the Olympic family, the area available may become saturated with spectators and visitors. Besides the exit way for spectators leaving the stands and the next sessions queue, there is the large number of visitors who are in the district to be a part of the excitement associated with the Olympics. Areas that may serve as future planting areas or “green areas” on a standard stadium must become large paved areas to handle the large crowds. Overall, circulation of the public and crowd dynamics is a difficult component and requires considerable planning. While briefing the Olympic stadium in Sydney, it was suggested that the original master plan had failed to provide adequate space for the large crowds to circulate. After witnessing the crowds at Atlanta, a redesign was initiated. Even though several of the venues were already built or under construction, accommodation was made to address the anticipated crowds.
Internal circulation in the facility may be affected by the Olympic overlay. Concourses may be disrupted for security reasons by user group separations. Temporary partitions may subdivide concourses and corridors. Temporary fit-out of spaces may be necessary to accommodate the large media requirements, athlete requirements and other Olympic family requirements. |
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Secure zone located adjacent to the Olympic Stadium. Media Center located in distant brick building. |
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Secure zone outside the Field Hockey venue. |
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Spectator queue going to the Gymnastics venue. |
