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 organizations 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 analog 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 maximizes 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.