The Summit is presented by Rushmans and partnered by SportBusiness International, the magazine serving the global sports sector. Complimenting the conference will be a select exhibition of leading-edge products and services designed to play critical roles in the battle to ensure the security of the millions of athletes, officials and spectators who attend sports events each year.

Jim Sloman will deliver a compelling and instructive insight into security planning and integration when he opens the second day of the third International Sports Security Summit on January 25.

Jim Sloman was Chief Operating Officer of the Sydney 2000 Olympic & Paralympic Games with ultimate responsibility for the overall planning and execution of all aspects of operations and at games time had overall operational command and control of the events.

Through his company, MI Associates, he continues to provide consultancy advice to events including the Rio de Janeiro 2007 Pan American Games, the recent Doha 2006 Asian Games, Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the Manchester 2002 & Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cups 2003 & 2007. He also advised the London 2012 bid and works with London's Olympic Delivery Authority and continues to provide advice to the IOC.

Peter Ryan, the consultant who has overseen five Olympic Games and a host of other major events including the recent Asian Games in Qatar, will assess the changing threat to events, spectators, and the brands which support them, in an opening keynote address which will draw on the well of knowledge of perhaps the most experienced individual in the sector.

Rory Steyn, security advisor to ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007, will share his insight into the security challenges around one of the most complex sports events ever staged.

In one of a series of case study themed sessions which underscore the breadth of the security challenge facing sports governing bodies, their advisers and contractors, Jeremy Troughton of the Volvo Ocean Race will explain how the threat of piracy as well as property and sponsor protection are real considerations in a 21st century security assessment.

Further specialist sessions will focus on security and safety in football and the evaluation, specification, acquisition and successful implementation of a range of leading edge technologies to enhance security effectiveness.

"This is a programme which doesn't simply reflect issues and concerns in sports security..because of the quality of the speakers and the nature of their insight it will help set the agenda for 2007 and well beyond," says Nigel Rushman, Managing Director of the organisers Rushmans.

"The range of sports events studied and the fast-moving technological areas which will come under the microscope in our sessions, make this a must-attend event for anyone who needs to know about the sports security sector." Nigel continues.