Y’know, I’m not overly confident that the 2012 Olympics in London are going to be a huge success.
Not if the organisation of the recent security industry event to provide information about procuring work at the Games is any indication. The organisers? The Olympic Delivery Authority.
What happened? Well, we received a standard email about an event to be held on October 24, offering information to security firms of all varieties on the security and safety requirements at the Games. We did what we normally do, which was to publish a story to inform the industry about this opportunity. The story went out on info4security.com on October 12.
It mentioned the fact that the deadline to apply for one of 300 limited positions – with only two representatives from each company – was 10am on October 17.
But as that date passed, and the 24th crept ever nearer, we began to be inundated with phone calls and emails from companies concerned that they had heard nothing back from the ODA. They hadn’t heard if they had been chosen to receive a place at the event – or even if their email had been received.
We were told that no press would be allowed to attend the event at all. Which seems odd, particularly as our attendance would have allowed the information to be reported to the UK industry at large – surely a good thing? Anyway…
On the 23rd, the day before the event was scheduled to be held, emails from the ODA were sent out – some were confirmations of attendance, others notified applicants of a second event on October 31, while a third batch were ‘regret to inform’ types which said the high level of interest meant there were not enough places available, although ‘the presentation’ would be made available on the London 2012 Business Centre website (http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-centre/index.php).
We were also informed that a major security industry body had not even been made aware that the event was taking place until October 23rd.
On the morning of October 24, the date of the event, we were still receiving calls from security firms who were unsure if the event was going ahead. Contacting the organisers, we were told that all of the information presented at the October 24 and 31 events would be sent to all of those who had emailed to register their interest. We will keep you updated as to when that happens.
So hopefully, in the end, everyone with an interest in working at the Games will have access to information about procuring it. But the point is, this sort of last minute notification and lack of communication appears, at best, slipshod and ramshackle, and at worst downright worrying. Not to mention somewhat uncaring about the demands of business, especially for small to medium sized operators who may find it more difficult to dedicate half a day of their time if only told at the very last opportunity.
It just concerns me that such a relatively simple event, which aimed solely to provide information, could be handled so badly. I hope it’s not an indication of the way the Games themselves, and specifically security provision and liaison with the industry, will unfold over the next few years.