IAEA provides nuclear security support at Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix

For the first time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is providing nuclear safety assistance at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the United Nations website, IAEA experts visited Baku in advance of the race. Working alongside specialists from France and the United Arab Emirates, they advised event organisers and reviewed the deployment of more than 100 radiation monitoring devices.

“Nuclear and other radioactive materials are increasingly being seen as potential tools for criminals at major events,” stressed IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “By extending our nuclear security support to the fast-paced world of motorsport, we are expanding our vigilance, helping countries close critical gaps, and ensuring the safety of the public.”

Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Security, highlighted the agency’s longstanding efforts in this area: “For more than two decades, the IAEA has been at the forefront of integrating nuclear security measures into traditional crowd control systems—efforts that protect millions of people,” she said. “Behind high-profile events like Formula 1 races lies a consistent approach that places nuclear safety as an integral element of overall security preparations both before and during the events.”

The IAEA had earlier supported Azerbaijan during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) and plans to continue cooperation at upcoming major events, including the CIS Games in November and the World Urban Forum in 2026.

Since 2004, the agency has provided nuclear security support to 88 major events in 49 countries. In 2023, it further strengthened these efforts by opening a Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre in Seibersdorf, Austria.

By Tamilla Hasanova