Type
Workshop
Future-Ready Airports: Preparedness for Mega Events through Safety, Sustainability, and Smart Innovation
Location
Atlanta, United States of America
Date
-
Duration
2 Days
Programme Area
Decentralize Cooperation Programme
Registration
Application-based event
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-Face
Language(s)
English
Pillar
People
Partnership
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA), Georgia Tech (1579)
Event Objectives
UNITAR in partnership with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), has launched the regional workshop "Future-Ready Airports: Preparedness for Mega Events Through Safety, Sustainability, and Smart Innovation."
The two-day training workshop takes place on 22 April at the Georgia Tech campus and 23 April at ATL’s Emergency Operations Center, bringing together airport authorities and key stakeholders ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Background
This workshop is part of UNITAR’s Airports Global Training Programme, a flagship initiative aligned with the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035). The Programme is built on four interconnected pillars, Smart Airports, Resilient Airports, Inclusive Airports, and Sustainable Airports, and is designed to equip airport and aviation leaders with strategies and practical tools to navigate technological modernisation, climate resilience, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
The programme is delivered by UNITAR in partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology and in collaboration with the International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) in Atlanta (United States), Merida (Mexico), Miami (United States), and in York (Canada).
Major sporting events take place around the globe, drawing tens of thousands of international travellers, placing pressure on cities and airport infrastructure, brining challenges and opportunities. Airports will serve as the critical first and last touchpoints for fans, athletes, and dignitaries, and their capacity to absorb massive passenger surges while maintaining safety and security, digital continuity, and environmental commitments will directly determine the success of these historic gatherings.
As a primary 2026 FIFA World Cup host city and home to the world's busiest airport, Atlanta offers an unparalleled live-learning environment. The workshop takes place just weeks before the World Cup kicks off, providing participants with immediate, actionable knowledge at precisely the moment it is most needed.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and lessons learned from international mega-events
- Promote energy efficiency, resource optimisation, and environmentally responsible operations
- Apply emergency response plans
- Strengthening digital infrastructure against cyber threats during peak event periods
Content and Structure
The workshop is structured around four priority themes directly linked to mega-event preparedness:
- IT and Cybersecurity: Strengthening digital infrastructure, securing passenger and operational management systems, protecting biometric data, and maintaining operational continuity against targeted cyber threats during peak event periods.
- Safety and Security Preparedness: Enhancing emergency response plans, crowd management, and inter-agency coordination to mitigate physical threats during high-capacity, high-profile periods.
- Sustainability Practices: Promoting energy efficiency, resource optimisation, and environmentally responsible operations, ensuring that massive capacity spikes do not compromise environmental commitments.
- Exchange of Good Practices: Facilitating knowledge sharing and lessons learned from international mega-events, including Atlanta's own Olympic legacy and Super Bowl hosting experience.
Site visits include:
- Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (A SDL)
- Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL)
- Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
Methodology
The workshop blends expert presentations and exchange of good practices by facilitating knowledge sharing and lessons learned from international mega-events to build institutional capacity and foster cross-border collaboration among 2026 and 2028 host airports. Experiences from Canada, Germany and Mexico in hosting major sporting events will also be shared throughout the workshop
Targeted Audience
The workshop is designed for senior airport and aviation professionals, including:
- Civil aviation authorities and airport operators
- Airport executives and senior operations managers
- Government authorities responsible for transport and security
- Cybersecurity and IT professionals
- Emergency preparedness and safety officials
- Sustainability and environment managers at airports
Data Protection and Privacy
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