Patron Management Institute
Turkish Fan Killed
Report: Fenerbahce fan fatally stabbed AP, May 13, 2013 Turkey’s state-run news agency says a Fenerbahce fan was stabbed to death by two Galatasaray supporters after a derby between the two rivals in Istanbul. Anadolu Agency says 20-year-old Burak Yildirim was fatally stabbed while on his way back home from the game late Sunday. The report, citing CCTV footage, said two people wearing Galatasaray clothes stabbed Yildirim in the heart at a bus stop. The report said Istanbul police have launched a man hunt for the attackers after establishing their identities. Fenerbahce won 2-1 in the last game of the season for the two clubs. http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/world/story/report-fenerbahce-fan-fatally-stabbed-after-galatasaray-derby-051313
Stadium Hot Dog Choking Death
Teacher, 28, dies after choking on hot dog at Wrigley Field By David Brown | Big League Stew The most effective way to make sense of the death of Maureen Oleskiewicz, without losing reason, is to know that her donated heart will beat again, inside of a young girl. Oleskiewicz’s death at 28 years old, which happened after she choked on a hot dog before a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field and went into cardiac arrest, is just too horrible to consider otherwise. A popular language arts teacher at a middle school in Chicago’s South Suburbs — and a big Cubs fan — Oleskiewicz instituted spirit days at school, with students dressing up in the jerseys of their favorite teams. She and her younger brother, Martin Oleskiewicz, were ready to watch the Cubs from the bleachers Sunday when something went terribly wrong during a pregame snack. Maureen suddenly slumped over and fell between rows of bleachers. Martin thought it was a joke at first. But by the time the national anthem was played, rescuers were performing CPR on his sister. The Chicago Tribune reports: “There were no signs she was in distress. She just went down,” said Martin, 23, Keep Reading
Artilce in USA Today on sport security
USA TODAY Sports investigation: Holes in stadium security Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY Sports 11:32 p.m. EDT May 2, 2013 More than 150,000 spectators will pour into Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the largest and highest-profile U.S. sporting event since last month’s bombings at the Boston Marathon. What they’ll witness is a scene that became familiar in stadiums nationwide after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001: a heightened security presence that will include electronic wand searches of patrons for suspicious objects and a fresh ban on coolers in the infield of Louisville’s storied Churchill Downs. But who are the private security guards protecting the nation’s stadiums? Are they more often tasked with subduing an inebriated fan than defusing a terrorist plot in the making? How good are they? It depends. Stadiums and entertainment venues across the nation routinely rely on low-paid, part-time security guards with spotty training and even criminal convictions, an investigation by USA TODAY Sports has found. Experts call it “security theater” at stadium gates — a show of uniforms and bag searches that does little to protect fans from what we witnessed in Boston. After that attack in broad daylight, they say the entire system needs an overhaul, from Keep Reading
Tight security, Boston solidarity at London Marathon
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY2:11 p.m. EDT April 21, 2013 The London Marathon comes six days after bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. 2013-4-21-london-marathon-boston-tribute LONDON — Less than a week after bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, those taking part at the London Marathon were refusing to let fear cast a shadow over Sunday’s race. On a chilly, but entirely clear, spring morning in the Blackheath area of the capital city’s south-east corridor, thousands of runners and their supporters observed a 30-second silence in a show of respect to the three people killed and more than 170 injured during last Monday’s traumatic events and the fraught aftermath. But Sunday, many in the assembled crowd made clear, was not a day to be cowed or to give in. There may not have been the marked sense of jubilation or as much giddy, nervous energy as can sometimes accompany these events, but many runners were determined to make the best of it. “We have confidence in London,” said Nicola Selwood, who was waiting for the mass start. “We put on the Olympics, so we can do this.” Selwood said that the city, and this race, Keep Reading
After the Boton Marathon Bombings
Security Firms’ Messages Resonate Louder Following Boston Marathon Attack April 25, 2013 by R.V. Baugus When a tragic situation unfolds such as the deaths and injuries following the bomb explosions at the Boston Marathon last week, it is only natural for those cities which have upcoming marathons to show extra vigilance in preparing for their events. It is a common spike in attention to detail that, while always present, goes up an extra notch. Not surprisingly, it is also during these times that security companies offering explosive detection, building guards and other safety measures see an increase in business as they reinforce the message for keeping guests safe. Global Information Inc., which provides market research on the global security industry, said the private security industry was already projected to increase 5 percent annually to an estimated $63.8 billion in 2016, and that the events in Boston could spur even faster growth. “It is a reality in our country that the interest in protecting infrastructure along with those inside them increases following a tragic event such as the Boston Marathon bombings, then decreases in interest as evidenced by state, local, and federal budget cuts between catastrophic events,” said Mark Camillo, senior Keep Reading
Football violence remains a challenge
April 19, 2013, Pan Stadia & Arena Management There was crowd violence last weekend at a number of football stadiums across Europe. At Wembley stadium during the semi-final of the FA Cup between Millwall and Wigan, Millwall fans were booed by the rest of the crowd as they fought each other. Police entered the spectator area and removed some of the perpetrators. Wembley has in general reduced the need for police at events by developing its stewarding and private security team. After the Newcastle versus Sunderland game four police officers were injured as trouble broke out in Newcastle town centre. The BBC reported that bottles were thrown and bins set on fire as mounted officers tried to move crowds back to allow visiting fans to be escorted to Metro and rail services. Northumbria Police said 29 arrests were made during the game itself. In Athens at the weekend AEK Athens players were chased off the pitch by their fans. Players went to the dressing rooms as play was halted. Police and security officials moved in to clear the pitch but after a further 90-minute delay the game was called off. Meanwhile in the UK, the police’s responsibility to police the Keep Reading
Two soccer fans killed
Two fans shot dead as World Cup stadium is put to test Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:30am EDT (Reuters) – Two soccer fans were shot dead on their way to a match at the Arena Castelao World Cup stadium in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Sunday, media reported. The national Globo network’s website (www.globo.com) cited police sources in their report that the two young men, fans of visiting team Ceara, were shot in the head from a passing vehicle allegedly carrying two Fortaleza supporters. The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper (www.folha.uol.com.br) said Ceara fans started a fight by throwing stones at Fortaleza supporters, which sparked the shooting. They said an unidentified man had been arrested in connection with the incident which occurred about five kilometers from the Arena Castelao and police carried out severe security checks at vantage points close to the stadium. Ceara beat bitter rivals Fortaleza 1-0 in their Cearense state championship match in the Atlantic coast city, where the stadium had its first test for Confederations Cup. The Confederations Cup, to be played by eight nations from June 15-30, is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup finals a year later in Brazil. Folha quoted Keep Reading
Texas man commits suicide with gun at NRA Sprint Cup race
By Brendan O’Brien | Reuters 4/14/13 (Reuters) – A Texas man used a gun to commit suicide in the infield of a National Rifle Association-sponsored NASCAR race at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth late on Saturday, local authorities said. Kirk Franklin, 42, of nearby Saginaw died after shooting himself at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday during the NRA 500 Sprint Cup race, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner. Franklin was involved in a verbal altercation with other race spectators before the incident, said Daniel Segura, a Fort Worth Police Department spokesman. Franklin’s body was found in the back seat of a truck, according to an online police report. (Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Edith Honan and Eric Walsh) http://sports.yahoo.com/news/texas-man-commits-suicide-gun-nra-sprint-car-003654700–spt.html
Explosion near Boston Marathon finish line
By Jason Sickles, Yahoo! | The Lookout 4/15/2013 Dozens of people have been seriously injured after two reported explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The Boston Globe cited witnesses who reported hearing two large explosions shortly before 3 p.m. ET. The Associated Press reported at least one of the explosions came near the entrance of the Fairmont Copley Hotel. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/live-updates-explosion-near-boston-marathon-finish-line-192213861.html
English football shaken by return of hooliganism
By ROB HARRIS (AP Sports Writer) 4/15/13 LONDON (AP) — A fan punches a police horse as the streets of Newcastle are turned into a battleground. Bloodied supporters brawl inside Wembley Stadium as weeping youngsters watch on. Fighting erupts at train stations as hooligans hurl racist abuse. English football has been in a time warp this weekend, with a return of the crowd trouble that stained the national game in the 1970s and 80s when its fans were the pariahs of Europe. Almost 80 fans were arrested as violence spread from stadiums to the streets and transport network, prompting fears that the ”English disease” had resurfaced. ”You never finally defeat football hooliganism,” British sports minister Hugh Robertson told The Associated Press. ”Huge, huge strides have been made since the 1980s. The situation has been transformed but we don’t appear to be able to make it go away forever. ”You’ve got to remain vigilant and remain tough when it occurs.” Police are acting quickly to prevent the disorder spreading as the season enters its final month. ”It is too soon to say if this is an emerging trend,” said Andy Holt, who oversees policing of football in England at the Association Keep Reading