Given its status as arguably the biggest high school sporting event in the world, ensuring the safety of everyone involved at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships is of utmost importance, for both the event organisers and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Over the decades, ‘Champs’ has attracted tens of thousands of individuals, locally and internationally, to witness some of the best student athletes compete over five days at the National Stadium.

With intense rivalries and passionate supporters present at the event, head of security on ISSA’s Champs Committee George Henry says it’s crucial that proper security measures are in place to prevent any incidents that could be detrimental, not just to the attendees but the brand Champs.

“ISSA is very much high on security because although we are running a festival for enjoyment, we have to ensure that the safety of all: athletes, spectators, even the security officers, everybody is safe. We are high on safety because at the end of the day, we don’t want persons of the view that we are in it to make money. Money is important but as far as ISSA is concerned, the safety of everyone is important,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that the safety we try to embark on at Champs this year, we want it to be top level; hence, we have acquired the services of the police, a private security company, Jamaica Combined Cadet Force and we are going to ensure that everybody: man, woman, boy and girl will be safe as far as this track and field festival is concerned,” Henry added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake, in charge of the strategic operations portfolio, told the Observer that Champs has always been a priority for the JCF and is assuring the same for the 113th edition.

“Over the years, we have established a security plan which has worked excellently in collaboration with private security, ISSA, the management of the stadium. We continue to execute this plan and it’s the same thing we are doing this year. Each year after Champs, we do a review to assess our security issues, so we develop and enhance the security plan and what we have now is a plan that has worked effectively, which will be put in place this year,” said Blake.

However, the price of security is a multimillion-dollar venture, nearly $20 million annually to be exact. But Henry doesn’t see it as an expense.

“In addition to the many security officers that will be working with us, we have to acquire over 250 private security guards to work alongside the police and personnel. It’s a very expensive venture but we are not worried about the cost because it is of paramount importance that we provide security for everyone,” he said.

There has rarely been reports of any security breaches or violations at the stadium over the years at Champs. Private security coordinator for the championships retired Jamaica Defence Force Captain Astley Jones says this is largely due to an extensive search system.

“Before any one is allowed in the stadium, whether bleachers or grandstand, they have to be searched. The search is to ensure there is no abnormal things within the entire stadium, so they search under seats, the concessionaires, all nooks and crannies to ensure there is no unusual looking objects that may be suspicious around the place,” he told the Observer.

Captain Jones reiterated that no weapons will be allowed in the stadium, including items like umbrellas and even geometry sets in some cases. Licensed firearm holders usually have the right to carry but not at Champs.

“Persons are to make their own arrangements wherever they do. Champs has never provided any form of area for it to be kept or paid for it to be kept, we just don’t get into that. You’re in a very safe environment, some of the police themselves don’t carry firearms. Those that are there and there for the protection of executives, those in the royal box and so on,” he said.

While the stadium is fully secure, it’s instances on the outside that have caught the public’s eye. Over the years, there have often been fights among rival schools, which have seen students being stabbed or beaten.

However, while not able to provide statistics, DCP Blake says a unified effort has seen a dip in Champs-related violence.

“It has reduced significantly and the Peace For Champs event, which the police in collaboration with ISSA, had a significant effect on school rivalry and violence which existed in the late 90s and early 2000s. I must commend the respective schools, ISSA and all the other stakeholders including the students themselves for their discipline which has led to very few, if any, complaints regarding school violence taking place. We work with all the stakeholders to ensure that we have a championship that is fairly peaceful and in order,” he said.

And Henry says the high school sport’s governing body isn’t expecting any violence to flare up this year, whether externally or internally at Champs.

“All ISSA member schools have been briefed and we continue to brief them so our principals, in particular, have played a very important role in sensitising the athletes and the students who will come as supporters. We try to ensure that everyone is sensitised because we do not support hooliganism, we do not support war, we want the athletes to be at peace with each other and just be engaged in keen rivalry. At the end of the day, students and athletes must win, ISSA must win and the sport of athletics must also win, so we are not too worried about students getting into anything,” he said.

Motorists who have attended Champs have faced issues. With the stadium only allowed to host a certain number of vehicles, persons have reported to parking their cars in the surrounding areas, most times at a cost, such as business establishments, residential properties and sidewalks. That has led to several break-ins and some cars being stolen.

DCP Blake says while they will be keeping a keen eye out, they are advising against parking in unauthorised zones.

“Prevention is the best approach to security so we’d recommend motorists park in car in areas they would consider safe and secure. But from a policing standpoint, we’ll be patrolling the entire corridors and we’ll be out in our numbers. While be doing our regular patrols, we encourage the motorists to be proactive and park in places they consider secure,” he said.