Coventry Strengthens International Sporting Event Links with South Korea
A Coventry-based event management and safety specialist has signed a landmark agreement to provide expert safety training to a South Korean events organisation during a high-profile visit to the city.
Stadium has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Sports Safety Foundation (KSSF), a national body focused on enhancing safety standards across sport and major events in South Korea, to continue sharing its expertise for the next three years.
The new MOU was signed as part of a six-day visit to Coventry organised by Stadium, which saw the international delegation involved in a comprehensive programme of meetings, site visits and knowledge-sharing focused on best practice in event safety, security and crowd management.
It extends the partnership between Stadium and KSSF, which was originally established in 2015 and is led by Stadium director Lorraine Baillie.
Her extensive knowledge of managing stadium security around the world and delivering classroom-based workshops to senior officials provided the basis of the training programme for KSSF.
She said: “Our partnership with KSSF has been a fruitful, long-standing relationship that we are delighted to be continuing.
“We were really pleased to welcome the South Korean delegation to Coventry to rekindle that partnership and continue to share best practice with them over the next three years.”
The visit was supported by the Sports in Coventry partnership, which brings together Coventry Building Society Arena, Warwick Conferences at the University of Warwick, Destination Coventry and Coventry City Council, with a shared ambition to attract major sporting events to the city.
It showcased Coventry’s growing track record as a destination for sport and major events, with delegates meeting key civic and industry figures while gaining first-hand insight into the UK’s approach to event safety.
The delegation was welcomed to the city by Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Rachel Lancaster, and heard from Paul Michael, Managing Director of Coventry Building Society Arena and Chair of Destination Coventry.
This preceded a tour of the Council House, before the delegation moved to St Mary’s Guildhall, one of Coventry’s most historic buildings, to sign the formal MOU.
The following day, delegates were invited to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Coventry Building Society Arena ahead of matchday, with a focus on stadium safety operations. The visited provided insight into the planning and coordination required to deliver safe and secure live events.
The programme forms part of a wider knowledge-sharing initiative between Stadium and KSSF, where delegates explore lessons learned from major incidents around the world.
David McAtamney, Founder and Executive Chairman of Stadium, said: “The signing of this MOU reflects the strength of our long-term relationship with the Korea Sports Safety Foundation.
“It was fantastic to welcome the delegation to our home city of Coventry and showcase both our work and everything that makes this city a great destination for events.
“The UK is recognised as a global leader in event safety and this programme allows us to continue to share best practice with colleagues in South Korea, including the lessons learned from major incidents to support that ongoing development.
“We would like to thank the Sports in Coventry partnership for their support in creating an excellent programme for the delegates that will equip them with the knowledge and insight to take back to Korea and support the continued development of event safety standards.”
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Rachel Lancaster, said: “Coventry has been proud to host many major events, from the 2012 Olympics and the Lionesses, to incredible concerts featuring stars such as Take That, Pink and Bon Jovi, and we are also a city that is known for pioneering new ways of working and technology.
“It was a pleasure to meet the South Korean delegation and to share some of that knowledge and expertise, and help their vital work to keep people safe, as well as show them some of our city’s amazing history.
“It is wonderful to see work like this where countries come together and build links that support not only the worlds of business and industry, but also international friendship and understanding.”
