Terrorism, Paris and Euro 2016: What next?

The recent attacks in Paris, France, have shocked the world and the targeting of the Stade de France has left many wondering about the future of big sporting events. In general, there has been a strong demonstration of solidarity with France, accompanied by a vow to stay strong and not give in to fear.

In spite of this, two friendly matches between Belgium and Spain and between Germany and the Netherlands were called off, and the Interior Ministry of France has issued an order banning away fans at least until mid-December, citing insufficient police forces available due to the coinciding COP21 climate summit.

So what does the Paris attack mean for the future of major sport events?

Taking a look at the history of attacks on sporting events and athletes shows that, unfortunately, the Paris attack was not the first and most likely will not be the last attack on a sporting event. However, it also shows the resiliency of sport and an ability to bounce back. For example, the year after the Boston Marathon bombing the number of spectators at the event more than doubled.

Nevertheless, things have changed following each attack. For example, the number of police officers at the Olympic Games has increased from 1,740 in 1972 to 23,700 in 2012. This trend towards increased security is evident across the board, and security measures are bound to be revised again after the attack in Paris.




In particular, security has become a main concern for the Euro 2016, scheduled to be held from 10 June to 10 July 2016 at venues all across France. According to Noël Le Graët, the president of the French Football Federation, “There was already a concern for the Euro, now it’s obviously a lot higher. We will continue to do everything we can so that security is assured despite all the risks that this entails. I know that everyone is vigilant. Obviously this means that we will now be even more vigilant. But it’s a permanent concern for the federation and the [French] state.”

UEFA’s executive committee is scheduled to meet in Paris on 10 December to discuss crowd safety measures for the Euro 2016. Options already being discussed in the media include airport style security checks involving ID checks, metal detectors and pat-downs to enter the stadia. In addition, there has also been talk about bag searches and increased CCTV surveillance.

So while both UEFA and the French government have pledged to continue with the Euro 2016 as planned, the recent attack will certainly shape the security agenda for all major sporting events to come.

Although new security measures may initially seem like a big imposition, the past has shown humans' incredible ability to adapt and get used to new procedures. However, we should be careful that while we ensure everybody's safety we do not impinge on basic rights such as the freedom of expression, congregation, and movement.