The 2014 Winter Olympics and
Study Abroad Programs:

The Challenges of International Competition
and Travel When Security Takes the Spotlight

Gary Rhodes
Associate Dean, International Education & Senior International Officer,
College of Extended & International Education
Director, Center for Global Education
California State University at Dominguez Hills

While Winter/Spring 2014 study abroad programs are just getting started around the world, the Winter Olympics—an event that would normally be highlighted for Olympic ideals and competition—has been replaced with news about terrorism concerns in the host city and country.

It is concerning to see that the upcoming Winter Olympics are not being looked at for the spirit of international competition and the goals of Olympism.  There are many ideals consistent with our work in study abroad and international higher education with the Olympics, if one replaced the concepts of “Olympics” and “sport” with “study abroad” or “education abroad”, and “play” with “learning”, the tone would be very similar to what is found in mission or vision statements about the values of study abroad:

"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." (https://worldwiseathlete.com/being-an-olympic-athlete.asp?topic_id=07&active=L4)

News about the 2014 Winter Olympics hasn’t included much information about the higher ideals of Olympism.  Many of the major news stories in the U.S. are focusing on Russian discriminatory policy against homosexuality and potential terrorism and concerns about safety during the Olympics.

An article on CNN raised concerns regarding homosexuality and the 2014 Winter Olympics:

“Russia has come under international pressure since its parliament passed a law last summer outlawing "gay propaganda." The legislation makes it illegal to tell children about gay equality.  The law has been widely criticized by Western leaders who have called it archaic and discriminatory. Human rights activists say it proves Russia is unworthy of hosting the latest Winter Olympics.  Putin's meeting with the Olympic volunteers came a day after he told foreign ambassadors in Moscow that the event would be held "without any discrimination" against athletes and visitors. "The games will be held in complete compliance with the Olympic Charter, without any discrimination on the basis of any characteristic," Putin said Thursday, according to state media.  The Olympic Charter states that: "Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."

Stories have been posted about the U.S. Administration response to this issue including the following PBS story:

“President Barack Obama named openly gay athletes to the delegation that will represent the U.S. next year at opening and closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, sending a clear signal to Russia about its treatment of gays and lesbians.  Tennis champion Billie Jean King will join the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony, while Caitlin Cahow, a women's ice hockey player and Olympic medalist, will represent the U.S. at the closing ceremony.  Both athletes have identified publicly as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.  White House spokesman Shin Inouye said that the delegation "represents the diversity that is the United States" and that Obama was proud to cheer America's athletes on at the 2014 Olympic Games.  "He knows they will showcase to the world the best of America -- diversity, determination and teamwork," Inouye said.

Recent stories have focused on the threats of terrorism against athletes and spectators at the 2014 Winter Olympics.  A recent story in BBC News, highlighted this issue:

“UK government officials are warning that more terrorist attacks in Russia are "very likely to occur" in the run-up to, or during, next week's Winter Olympics in Sochi, where 88 countries will be competing.  A twin bomb attack in the Russian city of Volgograd in December killed 34 people.  It was claimed by a militant Islamist group based in Dagestan, in the North Caucasus. An assessment of the threat seen by the BBC names a Caucasus group, Imarat Kavkaz (IK), as posing the main danger to the games on the Black Sea coast, saying it has repeatedly expressed a desire to target them.  It points out that in July 2013 the group's fugitive leader, Emir Doku Umarov, called on his followers to do what they could to disrupt the games.”

The U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Alert for the Russian Federation on January 24, 2014, which included concerns about potential terrorism at the Winter Olympics:

“Large-scale public events such as the Olympics present an attractive target for terrorists, and the U.S. government continues to monitor reported threats of potential terrorist attacks in Sochi or in Russia in general.  Acts of terrorism, including bombings and hostage takings, continue to occur in Russia, particularly in the North Caucasus region.  Between October 15 and December 30, 2013, there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd (600 miles from Sochi), two of which occurred within the same 24-hour period.  In early January 2014, media reports emerged about the possible presence of so-called “black widow” suicide bombers in Sochi.”

The Sports Business Journal entitled their story on the Winter Olympics in Sochi as “Security Takes the Spotlight” when describing the preparations that corporate sponsors are taking in regards to having travelers and other VIPs at the games:

“Several sponsors, including McDonald’s, are supplementing their security staff with support from global emergency and security companies. International SOS, which is working with 350 organizations representing 10,000 travelers to Sochi, plans to have planes available for medical and emergency evacuation. John Rendeiro, vice president of global security and intelligence for International SOS, said the company fielded calls from clients regarding Sochi security last week. Clients wanted to review contingency plans and discuss what to do if something happens… Rendeiro said. “You want to know where you’re going, how you’re getting there and be prepared with… a response plan if something happens.”

Hopefully news leading up to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil will have a stronger focus on the positive ideals of Olympism, sport and youth development, and peace and international understanding.

These issues in Sochi provide the potential for controversy and terrorism and will be highlighted in the world press before, during, and after the Olympics.   Study abroad faculty and staff, even those outside of the Russian Federation, should consider how they should respond to the issues that are raised and the potential for health and safety challenges abroad.  On 9/11, the companies that responded most effectively were those who had practiced emergency response drills and put those into action to get their staff out of the buildings.  Often, it is not a panic response that is a problem in a crisis, it is a delayed response.  People often freeze and rather than responding to the crisis situation, they may go to their room, look at online information, call friends or family, rather than acting.

When world-stage events raise the profile of safety and security issues faced abroad, study abroad faculty and staff should be prepared to respond to a heightened level of safety concerns from students, parents, and faculty and staff.   A staff member at International SOS confirmed that they always receive an uptick in requests for emergency response planning and drills soon after an international disaster occurs, as the general understanding for the need for this escalates and spreads across the campus from the financial controllers, to the Deans, to the students.  Often, risk managers and study abroad directors understand the value of practicing emergency drills, yet others who influence or have a say in the “when and how” push this best practice off until they are reminded that real safety risks exist out there.

I would suggest that these concerns provide the opportunity for study abroad faculty and staff who have not yet implemented an emergency response drill for their faculty, staff, and students to do so.  Institutions that have already done emergency response drills can update faculty and staff on effective response, although this is not to say that terrorism should be the biggest concern for study abroad faculty, staff, and students around the world.  Included below is a list from the SAFETI Clearinghouse of potential health and safety issues that could result in the need for an emergency response (https://globaled.us/safeti/program_audit_checklist.asp).

1. Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse
2. Conflict Between Students or Between Students and Program Faculty/Staff
3. Crime and Violence
4. Crisis Management
5. Emergency Communication
6. Environmental Challenges/Disaster Response
7. Faculty and Staff Leaders with Limited Knowledge and Skills to Support Effective Decision–Making for Health and Safety Support
8. Fire Safety
9. Kidnapping and Terrorism
10. Legal Issues Abroad
11. Medical/Physical Health Response
12. Mental Health Support
13. Political Instability Challenges/Response
14. Responding to Discrimination Abroad
15. Responding to Guidance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Abroad
16. Responding to Guidance by U.S. Department of State Abroad
17. Science Laboratory Hazards
18. Sexual Harassment and Assault
19. Supporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities
20. Transportation Safety
21. Tropical Diseases/Special Health Issues in the Developing World
22. Water Safety
23. Other Health and Safety Challenges

Whether your drills are based on the potential for terrorism or another one of the above issues, as your study abroad program begins, test your emergency response plans with drills to enable faculty, staff, and students to be better able to respond and help others during any type of crisis abroad.

Hopefully the 2014 Winter Olympics support international cooperation and understanding, while responding to the concerns that have been raised.   Hopefully study abroad programs, whether they are in the Russian Federation, other parts of Europe, or other countries around the world, don’t have to respond to a crisis that negatively impacts their faculty, staff, and students.  However, the better educated and prepared that faculty, staff, and students are for a crisis, the better the chance that it can be avoided or at least effectively responded to, no matter what the issue is for an individual or the group abroad.  Even if you don’t operate your own program abroad, your outreach to study abroad program providers can make an impact on their efforts to support emergency response drills abroad as well.