IAAF World Championships to Use Rapiscan Technology

The World Championships of the International Association of Athletics Federations will be a little more secure with the help of Hawthorne, Calif.-based company Rapiscan Systems.

Rapiscan, which makes metal detection systems including ones that use X-rays as well as standard walk-through and handheld detectors, has been tapped to deploy its detection equipment for the games, which are scheduled to be held Aug. 6-14, in Helsinki, Finland. The equipment is expected to be used both at the Olympic Stadium and at the Athletes' Village.

The IAAF championships focus predominantly on track and field sports and has an athlete draw from across a number of European, Eastern European and American countries.

"With over 350,000 spectators expected at the event and an estimated four billion viewers around the world, it is absolutely imperative that safety for the games is above reproach," said Rapiscan Systems President Ajay Mehra, in a statement announcing the use of Rapiscan's technology at the games. "We understand the inherent security challenges and look forward to drawing upon our vast experience to meet the needs of the IAAF and the Finnish Police Force."