Give special training to cops guarding stadiums

Dubai: Experts at the Dubai Police’s fifth International Conference of Sport Versus Crime held under the theme ‘Sport without Crime’ from January 26 to 28 urged security forces to initiate special training for police officers tasked with protecting stadiums and sporting facilities. They also called for developing programmes so as to promote sports.

They recommended the establishment of integrated sports projects, the design aspects of which should ensure that sporting events are held in a secure atmosphere.

The conference was held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

The conference recommended the initiation of awareness programmes in schools and universities to ensure a sports atmosphere free of intellectual prejudices. It also discussed the development of a software to translate the results of scientific studies on athletes’ issues with regard to security. They called for the setting up of special rehabilitation sporting programmes for inmates of punitive institutions.

Special attention should also be given to developing sporting activities for people with special needs.

The media, they said, should spread awareness so as to prevent sports riots. A special law must also be developed to combat hooliganism in sports.

amira@khaleejtimes.com