Here's how police shut down busy Toronto streets to move FIFA World Cup VIPs
With thousands of fans making their way to Toronto Stadium for FIFA World Cup matches over the next few weeks, a lot is happening behind the scenes to make sure that VIP guests and international teams get to their destination safely and on time.
In a video posted by the York Regional Police, Staff Sergeant Ban shared what it was like leading up to Canada's first-ever FIFA World Cup match as a motorcycle escort officer assigned with the duty of moving Team Canada through the city.
According to the video, the day starts off with a morning briefing, where officers receive their FIFA credentials, go over the schedule, and find out who they'll be escorting that day.
On match day, officers can be responsible for up to 12 escort movements within a short period of time, which involves helping VIP vehicles travel through the city's busy streets while also minimizing disruptions for everyone else on the road.
"The idea behind an escort is to safely and efficiently move a vehicle or vehicles from one point to another — with the least amount of impact to our road users," D. O'Donohue with the Toronto Police Service said in a separate video, detailing how motorcycle escort officers were preparing for the global tournament.
Sergeant Ban says that in roughly 95 per cent of situations, drivers and pedestrians are cooperative when escort officers are moving through intersections and streets, although in rare instances, there are some folks who ignore the rules in place.
After successfully getting Team Canada's bus down to Exhibition Place, officers help the vehicle get through the stadium gates ahead of the match. In the video, Ban also reflected on the magnetic atmosphere inside the stadium when Canada scored to tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying the cheering could be "heard for blocks."
Back in May, the Toronto Police Service Motor Squad trained alongside partners from York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Royal Mounted Police as part of preparations for the multi-week tournament.
According to the City of Toronto, Toronto Stadium is expected to host more than 45,000 fans per match, while the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway is anticipated to welcome up to 20,000 people during its 22 days of operation.
The next FIFA World Cup match at Toronto Stadium takes place on Saturday, June 20, at 4 p.m. between Germany and Côte d'Ivoire.
YRP
