WorldSkills Kazan 2019: “We can see everything on surveillance cameras”
Over 100 cameras will control the events at WorldSkills transmitting information to the main operation centre
WorldSkills Kazan 2019 will be completely controlled by outdoor surveillance cameras for the first time in the history of the movement, and information from them will be received in the main operation centre online. The organising committee of WorldSkills International approved the introduction of the total video surveillance system having given a positive evaluation of the programme’s testing at WorldSkills Russia this May. This security measure didn’t require big additional costs, as the basic technical equipment was purchased during the Universiade in 2013, head of the centre Galina Kupriyanova specified.
WorldSkills Kazan 2019 participants will be recorded by surveillance cameras
The main operation centre of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 has been fully put into operation this week. It will become the main and core security elements of one of the most numerous WorldSkills competitions that have been held in the world. Kazan is expected to gather over 1,300 competitors from 63 countries. They will be competing in 56 competences. Over 100 outdoor surveillance cameras installed on key competitions sites at Kazan Expo and on the perimeter of the complex will control and record the competition.
However, almost every step of a competitor will be monitored since the arrival in Kazan. According to head of the main operation centre Galina Kupriyanova, the operation centre is connected to even the Kazan airport’s surveillance cameras. Information will go to the operation centre by automatically informing about the arrival of a delegation or its departure. In a word, Kazan steers clear of all possible emergencies.
WorldSkills Kazan 2019 competition will be in Kazan from 22 to 27 August 2019.
At Kazan’s behest
Journalists had a chance to see how the main operation centre of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 worked first-hand. Before acquainting with its performance, Deputy Director General of WorldSkills Russia Union Karina Salikova said that the main operation centre was created at Kazan’s behest, which persuaded the organising committee of WorldSkills International of its efficiency from its own experience of holding big international sports competitions.
“The main operation centre is almost the centre of the whole event’s security system,” Karina Salikova noted. “It recommended itself very well during WorldSkills Russia competition, which was a test event before the world championship.
According to her, Kazan tested this system in four large international tournaments from the Universiade in 2013, while it remains a novelty for WorldSkills. Karina Salikova says that WorldSkills International positively evaluated it during the final of 7th WorldSkills Russia championship and recommended it to be applied in the world championship in Kazan.
Technical inspection starts on 16 August
The centre will be used under control of WorldSkills International’s technical delegation.
“Technical Director and member of WorldSkills International Jane Stokie arrived on 11 August, the biggest group of technical specialists who will help to host the competition was to arrive on 13 August,” Karina Salikova said.
According to her, the specialists will check the technical readiness of competition sites in terms of power supply. “Networks in many sites must withstand high voltage, as the participants will compete with modern-day milling machines and CNC lathes. There are over 44 different machine tools. It is the latest machine tools that provide voltage to all networks of the complex,” she noted and added that an electricity supply failure would affect the competitor’s points, and nobody would consider it as force majeure. The inspection is due to start on 16 August.
On the big screen
A colour monitor the size of the wall catches the eye at the entrance to the centre. It transmitted the picture from different points of Kazan Expo, including the driveway to the building. 37 managers work in the operation hall in front of computers who are responsible for different services, from security to food and registration. It is written in capital letters above every workplace whom a manager represents, for instance, FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare, the Tatarstan Ministry of Health.
Managers work around the clock monitoring what’s happening on the venues they are responsible for on surveillance cameras. According to head of the operation centre Galina Kupriyanova, information from surveillance cameras comes from all parking areas, from roads leading to the main competition venue Kazan Expo and its sites. A lot of cameras are also installed around Kazan Arena, where the rehearsal of the championship’s opening and closing ceremonies is taking place. In reply to Realnoe Vremya’s question how much the creation of the centre cost, Kupriyanova noted that big costs weren’t needed, as the basic equipment was purchased during the preparation for the Universiade 2013. “We will be able to see the main junctions, rendezvous points of organised groups of visitors, airports,” the head of the centre assured.
But the organisers of the championship are scared of emergency situations the most such as, first of all, vagaries of the weather. “This year the weather is testing us as never before,” Karina Salikova admitted. “During the Russian championship, we had both snow and heat. It is already an emergency situation because we have to change the schedule of the competition.” They haven’t had to face serious cyberattacks, Galina Kupriyanova noted. But security services have to fight imported products.
Trouble with food, not hackers
On the eve of the arrival in Kazan, the organising committee of the 45th WorldSkills sent out all participants letters with recommendations not to bring food to Russia. Head of the operation centre of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Galina Kupriyanova told Realnoe Vremya about it.
“Before the beginning, we did a big information job and sent out information letters where we said: ‘Please, don’t do it, don’t bring food. The organisers will provide you with all the essentials,’” she said in answer to the question of what difficulties the organising committee could face.
According to her, the menu of all days of the championship was approved by all delegations, which arrive in Kazan from 63 countries of the world. It is made up according to national recipes of different countries, this is why everyone will find something to one’s liking. “The cuisine will be very diverse,” she assured.
Galina Kupriyanova noted that they had to persuade foreign participants of world championships not to bring food from their country each time. According to her, they faced this problem for the first time during the Summer University Games in 2013. “Then a part of the competitors arrives with their foods. It was perishable. And we had to interfere and say that this food could pose a threat to their own health,” she shared. They had to take the imported products away.
