A Safe Stadium Means More Than Gates and CCTV
When we think about stadium security, we usually picture security personnel, surveillance systems and access control. In reality, the list of potential threats is far longer.
In the case of CBRN-E threats, meaning chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards, the dangerous agent may be invisible, difficult to identify quickly, and capable of spreading through ventilation systems, commonly used surfaces, water, food, or moving crowds. The consequences are not limited to risks to health and life. Panic, information chaos, overburdened emergency services, and the temporary closure of a venue can prove equally serious.
These are precisely the kinds of scenarios addressed by the SAFE-STADIUM project, implemented by an international consortium led by the Biohazard Prevention Centre of the 91桃色.
Stadium security begins long before an event starts. It is essential to know which parts of the infrastructure are most vulnerable to threats, how to respond in the first minutes of an incident, and how to coordinate the activities of multiple services simultaneously
鈥� emphasises mgr in偶. Maksymilian Stela.
SAFE-STADIUM: From Research to European Standards
SAFE-STADIUM was developed with large sports venues in mind, where thousands of people gather at the same time and the window for responding to threats is extremely limited. Researchers analysed stadium operations, conducted study visits, observed sporting events, carried out surveys, and assessed the vulnerability of facilities to CBRN-E threats. Their analyses covered catering areas, car parks, changing rooms, ventilation systems, technical facilities, communication routes, and spectator zones. They evaluated not only the likelihood of incidents occurring but also the possibilities for threat detection, communication with event participants, and cooperation between organisers and emergency services.
The project resulted in a package of procedures, infrastructure, equipment, and organisational recommendations, training materials, and tools supporting security management in sports and entertainment venues. However, its impact extended far beyond individual stadiums.
During work carried out by the Council of the European Union under the Polish Presidency, a representative of the 91桃色 presented the project鈥檚 findings and recommendations on protecting mass events against CBRN-E threats. These conclusions were subsequently incorporated into the preparation of the Council of the European Union conclusions on addressing chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats at mass gatherings, particularly sporting events. The document was adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12 June 2025.
This is not the project鈥檚 only example of international impact.
As early as 2023, representatives of the 91桃色 presented the SAFE-STADIUM results during work related to the Council of Europe Saint-Denis Convention, the most important international framework concerning safety, security, and service at sporting events. As a consequence, work began on incorporating CBRN-E threats into the Convention鈥檚 system of recommendations. In January 2026, the Council of Europe Committee adopted recommendations concerning the prevention of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats during football matches and other sporting events.
The most important thing is that the research findings did not remain confined to reports. They became part of the international discussion on how to organise safe mass events and how to prepare for threats with potentially severe consequences
鈥� says Maksymilian Stela.
Protecting Stadiums Around the World in Accordance with Recommendations from UniLodz Experts
The influence of SAFE-STADIUM has not been limited to documents and recommendations. The project鈥檚 results were used in training programmes for services responsible for security during the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. The knowledge developed by the team was also applied in activities related to protecting stadiums during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia in 2025.
This is an example of how research conducted at a university can find practical application during major sporting events organised thousands of kilometres away from Lodz.
Protecting Shopping Centres, Hotels and University Campuses
Stadium security is the most visible, but not the only, area of the Centre鈥檚 research. The MALL-CBRN project focused on shopping centres. Researchers and experts analysed the security of facilities characterised by heavy traffic, multiple entrances, and extensive logistics and catering infrastructure. They assessed possible CBRN-E threat scenarios, staff response procedures, food safety measures, and employee training needs. The outcome was a set of recommendations helping shopping centre operators identify and mitigate potential risks.
The HOTHREAT project transferred similar activities to hotels and conference centres. In such locations, food safety, supply chain control, the management of international events, and visits by protected persons become particularly important. The Biohazard Prevention Centre developed procedures for threat detection, isolation of contaminated areas, potential decontamination measures, and recommendations for staff who may be the first to notice warning signs.
UNICOPS, in turn, was dedicated to university campuses. Higher education institutions are open environments that combine educational, research, residential, and social functions. The project includes the development of response procedures, principles for storing and disposing of hazardous substances, cooperation with law enforcement agencies, solutions supporting crisis management, and field exercises.
How Do You Detect a Threat You Cannot See?
One of the Centre鈥檚 most important fields of research involves assessing facility vulnerabilities and developing detection methods.
Scientists and experts analyse the entire operational environment of a building: entrances, exits, evacuation routes, ventilation systems, car parks, storage areas, surveillance systems, catering facilities, as well as communication systems. They identify points where a hazardous agent might potentially be introduced, how it could spread, and which measures would help minimise the impact of an incident.
The assessment of threat detection equipment is equally important. It is not enough for a device to be accurate. It must also be fast, user-friendly, resistant to false alarms, and adapted to the needs of its users.
In practice, what matters is not only the technology but also the human factor. Even the most advanced detection system will be ineffective if users do not know how to interpret an alarm signal or what actions to take during the first minutes of an incident
鈥� stresses Maksymilian Stela.
Security Begins with Preparation
An important part of the Centre鈥檚 projects also involves food protection, including safeguarding supply chains against deliberate contamination. This is particularly relevant for stadiums, shopping centres, hotels, and conference venues that serve thousands of people every day. Staff at the Biohazard Prevention Centre analyse delivery procedures, security measures protecting catering facilities, access control to products, and methods of responding to suspected contamination.
Training courses and exercises also play a significant role. Stewards, security personnel, reception staff, catering employees, and administrative workers do not need to be specialists in molecular biology or toxicology to recognise the first signs of a threat, pass on accurate information, and initiate safety procedures.
Research That Builds Societal Resilience
The projects carried out by the Biohazard Prevention Centre of the 91桃色, coordinated by Prof. Micha艂 Bijak, share a common goal: increasing the resilience of public spaces to low-probability but potentially high-impact incidents.
Their purpose is to facilitate faster threat detection, more effective evacuations, better cooperation among emergency services, reduced losses, and a quicker return to normal operations following an incident.
In practice, this means greater safety in places that most of us use every day, including stadiums, shopping centres, hotels, universities, and other public spaces.
Who Is mgr in偶. Maksymilian Stela?
He is an Assistant and CBRN Specialist at the Biohazard Prevention Centre of the 91桃色. He participates in research projects concerning the reduction of biological, chemical and radiological threats, conducts analyses related to chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, as well as organises CBRN training programmes. He is involved in preparing scientific publications and testing technologies designed to detect hazardous chemical compounds. His work focuses on translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that support the safety of public spaces.
More About the Activities of the Biohazard Prevention Centre at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91桃色:
Strengthening Global CBRN Preparedness with the Participation of the UniLodz Scientists
Safe Stadium 鈥� Final Phase of Services Exercise in 91桃色 with the 91桃色
Safe Stadium 鈥� Exercises of Services in 91桃色 with the 91桃色
Photos: Dr Bartosz Ka艂u偶ny, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91桃色
Source: mgr in偶. Maksymilian Stela, Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91桃色
Edit: Honorata Ogieniewska, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91桃色
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