EPI-WIN digest 34 - Safe sporting events, stronger public health: key considerations and country experiences for mass gatherings

Overview

Mass gatherings, like sporting events or religious pilgrimages, are highly visible events attended by tens of thousands of people. They can pose public health risks and strain the public health resources of the hosting community, city or country. They require considerable preparedness and response capabilities on the part of the host. WHO supports Member States for the full cycle of an event.

Before an event, we support countries to conduct risk assessments, enhance surveillance for early detection of public health threats, develop and test contingency plans and with capacity building and legacy planning.

During an event, we respond to emergency alerts, share information with host countries, event organizers and partners, coordinate to monitor and assess public health risks and document challenges and successes to drive future improvement.

After an event, we help countries to evaluate health outcomes, document lessons learned and provide insights to improve future mass gathering planning, health infrastructure and capacities in host countries.

For further information, please watch the EPI-WIN Webinar 'safe sporting events, stronger public health: key considerations and country experiences for mass gatherings'.