(A225) Lessons Learned at the Commonwealth Games: A Mass-Gathering Sporting Event in New Delhi, India

Abstract

Mass gatherings can be religious, political, socio-cultural, or sporting events, and vary in the form of processions, car races, conferences, fairs, etc. New Delhi hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a mass gathering spread over a duration of 10 days with different venues and a high density of participants, spectators, security personnel, volunteers, and high-profile guests. Various organizations were involved in the planning and implementation of the games which called for a collaborative and coordinated effort to make the event a success. Security coverage was required for 23 sporting, 32 training, and seven non-sporting venues. Security arrangements were of utmost importance and required training, mobilization, and deployment of army, police, and other emergency workers, as well as establishing Standard Operating Procedures for responses to chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear events and availing specialized equipment. Areas of public health interventions in mass gathering include mass-casualty preparedness, disease surveillance and outbreak response, safety of water, food, and venues, health promotion, public health preparedness and response, pest and vector control, coordination and communication, healthcare facility capacity, and medical supplies. Methods adopted for the study included interviews with the stakeholders of the Commonwealth Games and use of secondary data to cite examples and support arguments. Existing knowledge must be documented and made available for use in planning for future mass gatherings. The size, duration, and interest of such events demands special attention toward preparedness and mitigation strategies to prevent or minimize the risk of ill health and maximizing the safety of people involved.