Case Study · Events & Entertainment
Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Crisis Management.
Supporting crisis management planning and preparedness for Eurovision 2023, enhancing leadership capability, communication and decision-making for terrorism-related and high-impact incidents.
- Client
- Eurovision Song Contest 2023
- Sector
- Live Events & Broadcast
- Engagement
- Planning, training & live exercise
- Standard
- Aligned to NaCTSO & ISO 22361
01 — The Challenge
A global audience, zero margin for error.
Hosting one of the world's largest live broadcast events requires a level of crisis preparedness that spans venue security, artist welfare, broadcast continuity and reputational risk. The organisers needed independent expertise to stress-test leadership decision-making across a range of terrorism-related and high-impact scenarios.
Key aims
- 01Validate the crisis management framework across event and broadcast functions
- 02Rehearse senior leaders in decision-making under compressed timeframes
- 03Strengthen communication and coordination with police and partner agencies
- 04Ensure alignment with NaCTSO Protect Duty and counter-terrorism guidance
02 — Our Solution
Rehearsed response, built for the venue.
Oakwood supported the planning phase, delivered scenario-based training for senior leaders and facilitated a live exercise programme designed around plausible, event-specific threats. Consultants observed decision flow, communication and coordination, benchmarking capability against recognised counter-terrorism and crisis management standards.
Reviewed event crisis and continuity documentation against best practice
Designed venue-specific scenarios covering terrorism, protest and welfare incidents
Delivered facilitated tabletop and live exercises with senior leadership
Integrated media, social and partner-agency injects to enhance realism
Provided a structured debrief with prioritised improvement actions
Live events demand rehearsed decisions, not written ones. Exercising leadership under realistic pressure is what turns a plan into confidence on the night.
Programme principle
03 — The Results
Confidence at showtime.
Senior leaders entered the event with tested playbooks, sharper coordination with partner agencies and a clear understanding of decision authority under pressure.
Sharper role clarity across the Crisis Management Team
Improved coordination with police and partner agencies
Increased confidence handling terrorism-related scenarios
Clear improvement roadmap adopted for future event cycles
04 — Key Insights
What we learned.
- 01Event crisis capability is built in the weeks before, not on the night
- 02Scenario realism matters — generic exercises rarely change behaviour
- 03Partner-agency integration is where most live-event responses fail
- 04Repeated rehearsal builds calm, decisive senior leadership
Next step
Pressure-test your own
crisis response.
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