Mass participation event challenges

Having had a chance to reflect on the previous weekend and seeing how the current state of affairs is progressing, I thought I would share my thoughts about how mass participation events are viewed. This is purely in the context of the current crisis with the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the behaviour of some that I witnessed over the last 7 days.

We are all in unprecedented times where there is a lot of emotion and feeling that come into peoples judgements and reactions, which I totally get. However, suddenly overnight much of the world seems to have become experts in how to manage Coronavirus and mass participation events. I totally get why people are worried, nervous, scared, and whatever other emotions come into play. With my parents being 76 and 80 years of age, it worries me what will happen to them.

All this said, I have no personal expertise or knowledge in Coronavirus and I have to respect that although there will be varied views between senior medical professionals and scientists, the people that are in place in lead medical roles will make the best decisions they can, based on the information they have at the time. They are human and they may be proved to be wrong in the long term, but I don’t believe any of them are giving directions intending to be wrong at the time they give them. These decisions will be likely to change as they get more information that impacts on their decision making process. I expect this to vary from country to country and from region to region, as ‘one size doesn’t fit all’. I am sure the media will interpret changes as u-turns and slate them. Surely we need to give people a chance?

Last weekend saw some event organisers getting absolutely slated, including public abuse and threats sent for allowing their events to proceed. Those decisions that I am aware of were based on directions from the relevant health guidelines at the time, and in direct consultation with all the relevant local authorities and emergency services. It is sad when people turn issues into political battles and I detest MPs or Councillors that choose to make it personal for their own popularity, rather than what is ‘believed’ to be the correct decision. Just because London Marathon was postponed from late April, doesn’t mean that was the same requirement for everyone else last weekend (ie 6 weeks earlier).

There have been so many lives lost with this awful virus and more will follow, but taking out frustrations and anger on event organisers that are following guidance from the official channels is not the way to proceed. Many seem to have learned nothing from the damage caused by abuse on social media, with Caroline Flack’s tragic suicide still sticking in my mind (again I don’t know all the facts with that case).

At this terrible time my thoughts go to all those who have lost loved ones, have relatives and friends who are suffering from the virus. We must not forget the amazing health service professionals and emergency services that are doing all they can to treat people and keep us safe by putting themselves at risk to help others. Also all the teachers that are keeping schools going, shop workers that are having to deal with all the panic buying and anyone else contributing to helping others during these dark hours.

At the same time many people are now without work, be it in the events sector or another. For all those freelancers and colleagues of mine that rely on the events each year, it doesn’t escape me that they will now be looking for where they will be able to earn money to keep themselves going. How will they pay their rent or mortgage and all the other bills that they have? The mental torture and anxiety this current time has bought is like nothing the sector (and all others) that I now work in has ever seen before. The knock ons for everyone are huge!

My views and comments above are not intended to start a war of words between different people on here, in fact the total opposite. Let’s try and respect each other more and the fact we will all have our own views. What I guarantee is that all the amazing event directors and professionals that I work with across so many events will do, is what they believe to be the right thing. No one wants to cause harm and suffering. At this time we all need to be more supportive of each other and help get through the challenges as they stand now, and for however long they exist.

Event world - stay strong, support each other, tough times, we can get through this! 

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