In 2008, while covering the Olympic Games in Beijing, I remember having to go through an airport-style security check at our hotel every morning. Parked against the hotel door was our bus, with two armed police officers keeping watch. The bus would take us down the fast lane into the international broadcasting centre, past all other security checks. On our way in, we passed a giant army tank and several heavily armed, serious looking Chinese officers.

Ever since the 1974 Olympic Games massacre, major sporting occasions have had no choice but to protect themselves as they’ve become an easy target for those intent on causing chaos and destruction. Thankfully, spectators in general have been able to go about enjoying sport without such fears. I have to admit though that in recent years, I’ve wondered how a major sporting event has escaped any type of terrorist massacre.

Some time after Beijing, I was in Old Trafford for a big Manchester United game. There was some intelligence that the game was under threat from terrorists. Of course, England has experienced its own 7/7 attack and has been on tenterhooks since. I recall sitting somewhat nervously in the stadium and thinking morbidly among 76,000 spectators that in fact, yes, this would be an ideal event and location to explode a high-profile bomb.

It wasn’t until two weeks ago outside the Stade de France in Paris that such an attack almost came off. It was only a matter of time. Three suicide bombers were intent on getting into the stadium for the friendly game between France and Germany and blowing themselves and God knows how many more to bits. Thankfully, it didn’t happen, but how long before they try again?

As a result, last week’s friendly between Belgium and Spain was postponed and the game between Germany and Holland was cancelled. It must be a first in Europe, to call off football matches, and friendlies at that, for fear of a terrorist attack. Is this going to be more common in the future?

We put our trust in the European police system to protect us but austerity across Europe has hit law enforcement as much as anything else. Important intelligence gathering has been stymied because of this.

The abomination called Isis has gained an upper hand as a result. Remember last year when they proclaimed that they were coming to Europe to fight us?

Well, they are here now, and it seems that nothing is sacred, not even sport, which in the past has been a great leveller.

Whatever about going to a match in Croke Park or the Aviva Stadium, regrettably I would now have serious reservations about attending a big sporting event anywhere else.

Of course we cannot give in to these lunatics but politics, religion, fanaticism and savagery have combined at once to make the world a very dangerous place. CL

Farm safety

One of the more powerful contributions to the ongoing discussion about farm safety came at the launch of the Safe Farm Families campaign two weeks ago. Kildare farmer Michael O’Brien spoke about how he lost his leg in an accident almost four decades ago. Yet it resonated with everyone like it was yesterday. I arrived a little late to the event due to traffic chaos in Dublin. Initially I went up side streets, broke the odd amber light and blew the horn once or twice. Then I realised, isn’t this exactly what causes accidents on many farms, rushing and cutting corners? Better to be 15 minutes late than 50 years too early.