The year 2026 promises to be pivotal for global sporting events, with major tournaments like the winter games and the world’s premier football competition on the horizon. These host cities will be under immense scrutiny to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.
The athletes competing in these events represent years of anticipation and preparation, not just for themselves but also for the security teams tasked with safeguarding the events.
Athletes and security personnel share a common objective: to use the latest tools, technology, and training to reduce friction, make efficient decisions, and respond swiftly to changing circumstances.
Integrated security ecosystems
Hexagon, a company with extensive experience in supporting host cities such as Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Turin, and Calgary, understands these challenges. Ensuring safe environments for participants and spectators involves creating and maintaining a comprehensive security ecosystem that extends beyond event locations.
Securing a major sporting event usually leads to significant investments in infrastructure, from new venues to public transport systems. Security experts and public safety organisations must work in unison to minimise risks and rapidly address any incidents.
Advancements in security technology
Video technology underpins event security, from analog cameras to advanced digital systemsVideo technology has been a cornerstone of event security, evolving from analogue systems to sophisticated IP cameras, body-worn video, facial recognition tools, and drones. The sheer scale of security measures continues to grow, exemplified by Mexico City’s deployment of 40,000 additional cameras for upcoming football events.
These video capabilities are complemented by essential systems such as access control, perimeter protection with advanced LiDAR, public address systems, alarms, and sensors.
Comprehensive video management
A specific example of effective integration is found in a host city where a multifaceted safe-city solution was implemented. This system merged various data sources—video, audio, radio, geolocation data, and web inputs—into a single framework, creating a cohesive operational overview.
Thousands of cameras fed into a central video management system connected to an integrated command and control centre. From there, operators used numerous workstations and a PSIM interface, developed collaboratively with local law enforcement, to manage operations through automated response plans and adaptive workflows.
This robust setup allowed for the automatic detection of overcrowding, loitering, unattended baggage, and intrusions, alongside traffic and congestion management.
Operational efficiency and safety
Security technology supports both safety and operations, especially at large-scale eventsFor events with strict timelines and high footfall, seamless integration of security systems is crucial. Any disruption, whether a train delay or a protest, could result in empty venues—a notable issue when an international audience is involved. Real-time, unified views enable teams to coordinate various responses from traffic redirection to large-scale evacuations.
Additionally, security technology is versatile, aiding not just safety but also competition operations, particularly in events covering expansive areas. An iconic French racetrack, for instance, utilises its video management system year-round, providing race marshals with live and recorded footage to enhance decision-making during events.
Adapting security strategies
Although hosting major global sports events is rare, many cities face similar challenges due to seasonal tourism, festivals, and other public gatherings. These cities need to adapt to changing geopolitical situations, evolving threats, and growing expectations for public safety.
Continuous evaluation and improvement of security measures are crucial in preparing for adversity and ensuring safe environments for citizens and infrastructure.
2026 is set to be a banner year for sporting events around the globe. From the winter games to the world’s premier soccer tournament happening this summer, host cities will be under tremendous pressure to keep residents and visitors safe.
When athletes take to the field or hit the slopes, it always marks the culmination of years of planning and preparation — not only for the competitors, but also for the teams responsible for their safety and security.
In many ways, both groups share similar goals: using the latest tools, technology and training to reduce friction, sharpen reactions, make split‑second decisions and quickly adapt to changing conditions.
An integrated ecosystem
Rising to these challenges is something that Hexagon knows well, having supported customers in multiple host cities, including Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Turin and others, going as far back as Calgary in 1986.
Ensuring the safety of participants and spectators is always a top priority. Achieving it requires building and managing a tightly integrated ecosystem that reaches far beyond the slopes or stadiums. When a city is awarded host status for a major sporting event, it typically triggers massive investment in new venues, public areas, accommodations, commercial developments and transport links — designed both to showcase the nation globally and to create a lasting legacy.
In parallel, security specialists and public safety organisations collaborate to mitigate risks and coordinate fast, effective responses to emerging situations.
Security systems
Video technology has long been a cornerstone of these efforts. Over the decades, we’ve seen the evolution from analogue to IP cameras, and more recently, the adoption of body‑worn video, facial recognition and drones. Scale continues to increase as well; for example, Mexico City has reportedly deployed 40,000 additional cameras in preparation for upcoming soccer events.
Alongside video are numerous other mission‑critical systems — access control, perimeter protection (from traditional fencing to advanced LiDAR), public address systems, alarms and sensors.
Video management system
To illustrate how these elements come together, one of the customers in a host city implemented a comprehensive safe‑city solution to merge disparate data sources into a single operational picture. Multiple systems — including video, audio, radio, geolocation data and web inputs — were integrated into a common framework.
Thousands of cameras fed a central video management system that connected to an integrated command and control centre. Operators used 40 desktop workstations and a PSIM interface, developed in collaboration with local law enforcement, to coordinate operations using automated response plans and adaptive workflows.
This system enabled authorities to automatically detect overcrowding, loitering, unattended baggage and perimeter intrusions. It also protected critical infrastructure and supported traffic monitoring, congestion management and the detection of illegal parking.
Ease of management and safety
Such integration is essential for events with tight schedules and large, continuous flows of people. A single train incident, road closure or protest could delay thousands and result in empty venues — an unwelcome scenario when the world is watching. A unified, real‑time view allows teams to confidently coordinate responses ranging from traffic redirection to full stadium evacuations.
Technology installed for safety can also support competition operations, especially in events spanning large areas such as skiathlons, marathons, triathlons or motorsports. One iconic French racetrack, for example, uses its VMS year‑round for security but also supplies race marshals with live and recorded visuals via a six‑screen view wall during events. This enhances on‑track decision‑making and maximises the value of the technology investment.
Evaluating security measures
Few cities host the world’s largest sporting events, but many face similar challenges — seasonal tourism, game days, festivals and major public celebrations. They must also adapt to shifting geopolitical realities, evolving threats and rising expectations for public safety.
Every city should continually evaluate how it can better prepare for adversity and create safer, more secure environments for its people, places and infrastructure.
