ABSTRACT
Access to international events, as this chapter will highlight, covers a multitude of topics. From simple considerations of who goes where in and around an event space, to the various ways of discrimination. Access, from an international event perspective, covers every aspect of the right of entry from getting to and about the event to how data is managed. Topical access issues include ticketing, data protection, gender, and how the event organisers can ensure the safety of all and legally monitor various aspects of the event. International events need to ensure all these different features of access are considered while shielding the event against unwanted entry.
Access is an area of international events in academic terms that remains largely misunderstood and disproportionately poor in terms of maintaining responsibility on many levels. While access is largely concerned with gaining or denying the right of entry, the ability to manage, monitor, and provide adequate access to events is a highly complex responsibility. While technology has improved the way in which access is provided at events, it has also created many of the biggest problems surrounding legitimate and reasonable access.
Access covers many characteristics that have implications before, during and after the event. Access can include pre-event preparations, the safety of all participants (on and off site, particularly close to the event site itself), event design, site layout, and satisfaction. Data collected from the access process can improve the event experience, provide vital information for future planning and improve various features of subsequent events. Therefore, being able to deliver an event that is accessible for every potential attendee and participant is imperative. At the same time, it remains a challenging characteristic of international event delivery. From dealing with the whole range of special needs to being prepared for the risk and the threat of an unwanted incident during the event, the amount of time, effort, planning and preparation can be overwhelming for the organisers as the demand for safeguarding the wellbeing of those who attend must not be compromised.194
Access to events is a much deeper subject than one might suspect. This chapter has taught us that as one access topic is discussed, another is revealed, and it becomes difficult to avoid raising more and more issues that relate to accessing international events. We have learned that many of the issues with access relate to safety and fairness, not only through attendance, but also through participation. There remains much to be done to provide the appropriate levels of access across all the topics discussed, but there is also solid evidence that international events have developed considerably in recent years and meet the many demands to warrant our events are safe and ensure the needs of the minority and less represented groups are included.
