Of great concern at major sporting events is the level of security for all participants, be they the athletes, the fans, or any other stakeholder contributing to make the event a success. 

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (FIBA BWC) is the apex of basketball tournaments, and co-host the Philippines considers its security measures of primary importance, to ensure the smooth, trouble-free execution of the games from August 25 to September 10.

With opening day fast approaching, BGen Henry G. Sabarre AFP (ret.), Head of Safety and Security of the Philippines Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the FIBAWC, emphasized that at this point, all safety and security measures are well in place. The group is merely awaiting the dates of execution of all its plans.

“Conferences and meetings are still being scheduled with other agencies involved, whose common agenda is to fine-tune all preparations to avoid missing out on any detail. All competition and non- competition venues will be well-covered inside and out and team convoys thoroughly rehearsed.”

The LOC coordinated with an array of government agencies such as the Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the different local government units, as well as the estate managers of the different venues (both playing and non-playing), and the North Luzon Expressway. “All were very supportive with their time and energy, knowing how much is at stake with the outcome of the [FIBAWC],” said Sabarre.

Most of the personnel in the LOC Safety & Security team have prior experience at major sporting events previously held in the country. As such, there was really nothing new or innovative installed for the FIBAWC, but just “good ole fashioned physical security preparations, as well as selecting the right people for the job.” For Sabarre, it is all the matter of empowering subordinate managers by providing them the authority, pertinent information, and effective leadership to get it done.

Considering that games will be held at separate venues could have posed a problem, but the LOC decided to decentralize its different functional areas into clusters, by competition venue, which should make matters simpler. 

“This way, the LOC, particularly Safety & Security, can now manage and give better support to the individual clusters, whether it be Smart Araneta Coliseum, Mall of Asia Arena, and even Philippine Arena (on opening day). Each venue is now self-sustaining with their respective complements.”

As such, each playing venue will have adequate resources and manpower to ensure the smooth conduct of the games, including secured transportation. The Safety & Security group will help ensure that all teams will be on time for their respective scheduled activities.

One matter that must be given special concern or consideration for the FIBAWC, according to Sabarre, is the strict implementation of the “zoning system” of FIBA, which designates different areas of interest at the venues, such that FIBA, LOC, and venue personnel, as well as fans and media, have restricted access to certain zones. Admittedly, enforcement was a challenge during the country’s hosting of World Cup Qualifier windows in the past year, but close coordination with the Accreditation group of the LOC should help the Safety & Security team to strictly enforce this from the get-go.

With plans and personnel in place, the LOC is confident that the FIBAWC will be successful from a security standpoint. Around 180 personnel, backstopped by the different government agencies and units, are all set. “With our level of preparation and years of experience in organizing sporting events, we can confidently say that the FIBA BWC in Manila will be a rousing success. We will not guarantee a 100% incident-free hosting, but we are very sure the country will be proud to say we hosted the best World Cup ever.”