ESPN has told its employees that they do not have to travel to France for Euro 2016 if they are concerned about potential terrorism.
No employees have opted out yet.
“We have really emphasized to all of the folks that are traveling to France that if they have any anxiety, if their families have any anxiety, if they’re not confident about going to France to cover the event, they should not go,” said Amy Rosenfeld, ESPN’s senior coordinating producer. “It won’t be held against them. It’s a personal choice.”
“If they have any anxiety … they should not go.”
AMY ROSENFELD
ESPN
It was just six months ago that 130 people died in terrorist attacks around Paris. Two explosions occurred outside the Stade de France, where France and Germany were playing a soccer match that the terrorists tried to attend.
It’s nothing new for sports networks to make such contingency plans. NBC Sports is facing a similar situation in Rio, where the network has given similar message to its employees worried about contracting the Zika virus: If they are too concerned about the potential for contracting the virus, they can stay in the U.S. without fear of losing their job.
Employee safety has been part of the planning process for every international event that Rosenfeld worked, she said.
“I remember working the Athens Olympics, and I remember the emphasis that NBC placed on our safety,” she said. “We did more seminars on safety than on the production itself. And NBC thoroughly plans its productions.”
ESPN’s plans for the Euro coverage aren’t much different. While the focus will be on the games on the field, Rosenfeld said she has to consider what to do should an attack occur.
“Unfortunately, you have to go worst-case scenario in your mind, and that involves how we best protect our people and how we best document what is happening,” she said. “We’re not a news organization. We’re sports broadcasters. Unfortunately, over the years through a variety of events, we sometimes have to become news gatherers. We go through the checklist. What if cellphones were out? What if power goes out? What if the city’s in a lockdown? How do we protect our people and how do we get a signal out? That’s part of these events.”
— John Ourand
