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July 23, 2015Los Angeles, CA, United StatesOperational

ICE provides security support for 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games

ICE provides security support for 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games ICE provides security support for 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games HSI Long Beach Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby (standing) is the DHS Federal Coordinator for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. HSI Long Beach Assistant Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens, seated behind the computer, is part of HSI’s security team providing support throughout the event. HSI Long Beach Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby and HSI Long Beach Assistant Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens are on hand to provide security support throughout the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles. Law enforcement officers, firemen and other first responders from all levels of government duty stationed in the greater Los Angeles area were invited by the World Games Special Olympics Committee to present the medal awards at the various competition venues. HSI Long Beach Assistant Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens (standing center) is part of the HSI leadership team proving security for the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles. Law enforcement officers, firemen and other first responders from all levels of government duty stationed in the greater Los Angeles area were invited by the World Games Special Olympics Committee to present the medal awards at the various competition venues. Law enforcement officers, firemen and other first responders from all levels of government duty stationed in the greater Los Angeles area were invited by the World Games Special Olympics Committee to present the medal awards at the various competition venues. Law enforcement officers, firemen and other first responders from all levels of government duty stationed in the greater Los Angeles area were invited by the World Games Special Olympics Committee to present the medal awards at the various competition venues. Law enforcement officers, firemen and other first responders from all levels of government duty stationed in the greater Los Angeles area were invited by the World Games Special Olympics Committee to present the medal awards at the various competition venues.

On Saturday, July 25, approximately 6,500 athletes from 165 nations around the world descended upon Los Angeles, California, for the start of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

For nine days, athletes will compete in various summer sports including aquatics, gymnastics and track and field, among others. The Games will provide a stage for the athletes to display their courage, determination and sportsmanship, while changing forever the perception many have about people with intellectual disabilities.

The first World Summer Games to be held in the United States in 16 years will draw an estimated 500,000 attendees, making it the biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. To help ensure the safety of the participants, volunteers and spectators, officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will be on hand to provide security support throughout the event.

“Once the event was elevated to a SEAR (Special Event Assessment Rating) 2 level, we knew we’d probably be getting a call to help out,” said HSI Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby, who is the DHS Federal Coordinator for the 2015 Games.

“It’s absolutely the type of feel-good event we want to be involved in and it makes you proud to be a part of it.”

According to Selby, who has also been designated the DHS Deputy Federal Coordinator for security support for the 2016 Rose Bowl and Rose Parade, members of HSI’s Special Response Team (SRT), Rapid Response Team (RRT) and intelligence analysts will help provide security along with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and other Department of Homeland Security components including the Secret Service and TSA. While most of the support will be in the form of contingency planning and filling gaps in security and safety where needed, HSI special agents will be on site at the unified command post and will conduct surveillance throughout the event at the various venues from Encino to Long Beach.

Additional HSI agents will be deployed as requested by the LAPD if a potential risk is identified.

“This is going to be a massive undertaking just based on the geographic footprint [of the event],” Selby said. “We’re going to help the lead local law enforcement agencies plug any identified gaps in safety and security through coordination of available DHS resources that the agencies otherwise might not have immediate access to.”

Despite the 2015 Games being “family-oriented,” security will be approached as if it was a Super Bowl-like event. With Los Angeles being a major city and the games signing a global programming deal with ESPN, this year’s Special Olympics will attract many corporate sponsors, celebrities and dignitaries during the week, including First Lady Michelle Obama.

“You have to treat it like it’s a high-risk event because in today’s day and age, unfortunately, it is one,” Selby said.

The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 with its mission to, through the power of sport, create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. The theme of teamwork will be exemplified by those competing, and the men and women who will be protecting them.

“This is one of those events where you find consensus in approach while working with other agencies,” Selby said. “Each of us has a separate mission, but each of those missions is valuable and we can be successful working together.”

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