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Staff at Stansted Airport are being prepared for the extra demands that will result from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games such as an estimated 100,000 extra passengers (before, during and after the fast approaching London 2012 Games), and an influx of unusual sporting baggage such as swords, firearms and specialist equipment.

As part of the training, members of the airport's various agencies have been meeting with Olympians and Paralympians to find out what added requirements sport brings. Some athletes have let staff screen their equipment, to familiarise airport staff with the x-ray screen images that they are likely to see an influx of during the year 2012.  These images will be reproduced in a training package for all Stansted Airport staff.

Among the speakers at the briefing was Brentwood Olympic fencer and Team Essex Ambassador, Alex O'Connell and paralympian Ian Gowans.

Given the nature of his equipment, Alex is O'Connell is well aware of the challenges his kit can cause at airports as he mentions below:

"I was invited by Julia Gregory to attend this conference for security and airport service personnel - baggage handlers, police, duty free people, customs/security etc.  I took along all of my kit and explained to them the problems I've had (and other stories Ive heard from other fencers down the years) getting through security and hopefully gave them an idea of what to expect come 2012 - when there will probably be 300+ fencers, coaches and training partners coming to London along with probably a couple of hundred modern pentathletes (which includes fencing). It seemed like a great idea to me - as most of the problems we have come from people at security who dont know what is going on or what fencing kit necessarily involves. Given how much there is to worry about before an Olympic and Paralympic Games hopefully, everyone arriving will be able to have as smooth a ride as possible through all of the airports and worry about competing, not customs! I think its great that that Stansted Airpost at least, are getting ahead with things like this - it can have a real positive impact on the Games."

Alex O'Connell

Ian Gowans, a former paralympic swimmer and now athlete services manager, talked about issues surrounding vital specialist equipment, such as £6,000 racing chairs and prosthetic legs costing up to £10,000.

As part of the preparations, Stansted Airport's Head of Transport, Planning and Policy, Julia Gregory and her colleagues have recced at other host countries, such as Beijing and Vancouver.  They have also had contact with some of the teams who will be coming to find out what they will require.

However, Julia was confident holidaymakers using the airport during Games time would not be unduly affected.

"Our first priority is absolutely to protect business as usual. Then obviously the next priority is to make sure that everyone who comes to London during 2012 has a great experience," she said.

This event was covered by BBC Essex.  Click here for full news article.