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Travelling Aussie workers were victims of an assault and attempted robbery right on the eve of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, set to kick off this Friday (26 July).
As previously reported on HR Leader, nerves and fears were common among travelling workers heading to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The media whirlwind on the potential threats of terrorist attacks has been intense as the anticipation for the tournament continues to build.
Yet before the flag bearers could make their walk or the Olympic flame be lit, two Australian workers were faced with some real danger as they narrowly escaped serious injury.
According to multiple media outlets, two members of Nine’s Olympics broadcast team were attacked during an attempted robbery right on the outskirts of Paris.
The pair were attempting to get to their accommodation in north-east Paris when a group of people attempted to steal one of their bags late on Monday afternoon (22 July).
Nine has sent over close to 200 staff to Paris, operating its broadcast and coverage of the Olympic Games. The pair, who are both tech workers, were assaulted in the scuffle but somehow managed to escape to safety. The attack was reported to the police.
As the games haven’t even started, reports of ghastly assaults and incidents are already casting a dark cloud over what is, in its purity, supposed to be a celebration of the best athletes the world has to offer.
If this is the precedent going forward, then organisations must ensure that they have prepared and are constantly in contact with their workers stationed in Paris, in an attempt to mitigate any harm coming their way.
As Rodger Cook, general manager of global security services at World Travel Protection, said: “It’s always planning, and it’s understanding what assets you’ve got available to you to mitigate or to deal with a situation.”
“It’s understanding what assets you’ve got available to you to get you out of a situation. [It’s about] knowing where your employees are, knowing where they need to be, and having your employees educated on what they need to do should they get into trouble.”
It was reported that a majority of media organisations that have sent workers over to cover the Olympics did their due diligence in training and preparing their employees for situations similar to what the two Nine workers experienced.
Resources such as access to security and emergency resources, whether that’s apps or emergency contact numbers, should have been given to staff, as well as personal protective equipment.
As the games are about to proceed, it’s of the utmost importance that those communication lines between an employer and their employees remain clear and available at all times.
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An employee is a person who has signed a contract with a company to provide services in exchange for pay or benefits. Employees vary from other employees like contractors in that their employer has the legal authority to set their working conditions, hours, and working practises.
Kace O'Neill
Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.
