Army help sought for ‘biggest event ever’

Date Published: 15-Mar-2012

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

The organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race Grand Finale in Galway have called in army support for the event, described as “a logistics behemoth and the biggest-ever event the country has seen”.

Latest estimates show that around 700,000 people will attend the event, which will generate up to €65 million for the local economy.

The Galway City Tribune has learned that a request has been sent to the Department of Defence by Let’s Do It Global (the organisers of the event in Galway) for assistance with logistics, crowd management and the provision of medical support.

A decision will be made on the application next week, and if granted, the Dept will instruct the Defence Forces to provide assistance.

John Killeen of Let’s Do It Global told the Galway City Tribune: “It’s a logistical behemoth. We have a huge team of 1,200 volunteers and will accept expertise from anywhere we can get it. We have a few requirements which we feel the army could be very helpful with.

“Some of the logistics involve moving huge containers and other large items, and the army have expertise in this area, they would be a huge help to us.”

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.