Kidnap and Ransom Insurance for Professional Athletes

The security of professional athletes in the sports of football and hockey is not a main concern and the security risks are negligible in these two sports. Because 99% of the football players in the U.S. are from the U.S. and U.S. football leagues do not exist in Latin America, we do not have many football players crossing international borders. The only risks in hockey are not related to the U.S. or Canada, but for U.S. and Canadian hockey players living and playing in Russia. So, what are the main things for sports teams and individual athletes to consider regarding their safety and security while abroad?

Kidnap and ransom insurance for professional soccer players: Almost a thousand professional soccer players around the world live and play in a foreign country away from home. Professional soccer players, playing anywhere in Latin America, should consider personal kidnap and ransom insurance policies for professional athletes. These security programs for soccer players cost around $1,800 a year for the very best plans, but as we just learned with Wilson Ramos, what could be more important?

The security of professional athletes when they return to their home country, if their home country is in Latin America: This is exactly what just happened to Wilson Ramos in Venezuela. Local residents of Venezuela know who he is, and they know how much money he is worth. Remember, a man that makes just a $1,000,000 USD a year is a relative billionaire in Latin America. Sports stars have historically not taken steps to protect themselves like the "traditional wealthy" or the "business rich", who have made investments in protection such as security details, bulletproof windows, and panic rooms.

Kidnap and ransom insurance for professional basketball players: Many U.S. citizens go overseas to play basketball. Most of the higher paid athletes should consider kidnap and ransom insurance for pro basketball players depending on the country where the league plays. This may be a growing concern as more NBA players consider playing in leagues outside the United States, as the current labor disputes wear on. Basketball is almost a global sport today and the kidnap and ransom risk will be different from country to country. Leagues span from Croatia to Shanghai, China.