World Cup 2010 - safety preparations

With thousands of England football fans expected to travel to South Africa later this year to watch the 2010 football World Cup tournament, work is taking place behind-the-scenes by Foreign Office staff in partnership with the authorities in South Africa to ensure visiting fans have a safe and enjoyable trip.



As part of its preparations, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has this week run a planning exercise. Staff at the British High Commission in Pretoria along with staff from the FCO's Crisis Response Centre in London responded to a simulated scenario to test their consular procedures and make sure preparations to provide assistance to British nationals in the event of a real emergency are as robust as possible.

Road traffic accidents occur the world over, and the fictional scenario was based on a coach crash involving British nationals. The event was briefed to High Commission staff via a mock news report. Immediately, staff implemented emergency plans, sending out a team to the crash site to provide on-the-ground assistance to people involved in the incident.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is running a 'Be on the Ball' campaign aimed at helping England fans travelling to South Africa for the World Cup to have a safe and enjoyable trip. Further information can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup