Global Critical Logistics’ events specialist arm, Rock-it Global has handled the logistics for Team Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Rock-it transported food, medicine, and sporting equipment ranging from hockey sticks to sailing boats for the games, which started on 20 October. It also handled all customs, carnets, and tariffs arrangements and exemptions for the importation of goods, working with various government agencies.
Rock-it’s director, sports and broadcast, Josh Gordon, said: “Rock-it transports anything that helps the athletes feel at home, whether that be their favourite cereal bar, furniture, weight training equipment, or more obscure things like team signage and games for the athletes’ lounge. The cargo we’ve had to move comes in a range of sizes and shapes.”
The Rock-it team has been preparing for Santiago 2023 for over a year, with team members scouting the 12 event venues, driving through each route to identify potential risks or challenges, drawing up solid contingency plans, and arranging insurance coverage.
However, as Adam Tubaro, director sports and broadcast logistics, pointed out, having a ‘Plan B’ is vital: “Things on the ground rarely go as planned, and we have the advantage of being flexible and agile when contingencies need to be activated.”