Theatres To Offer Terror Insurance
This is an article by Tom Parfitt for the Guardian - 10/6/06.
Theatre audiences in Russia will soon be able to buy insurance against a terrorist attack or some other catastrophe befalling them during the performance.
'One-off' policies against "unfortunate occurrences" will be available for between 5 and 200 roubles (£1-£4) when booking seats. It is a delayed response to the Moscow hostage crisis in 2002, when 129 audience members were killed after Chechen militants seized a theatre.
The policies were devised by the ministry of culture and Konda, an insurance company in St Petersburg, and pay out a maximum of £1,000 in case of death, disabling injury or medical treatment lasting longer than four months.
Andrey Moskovich, an insurance specialist, said Russians were wary of long-term policies. "People just don't understand life insurance," he said. "They prefer short coverage for concrete events."
About a third of visitors to theatres in St Petersburg are said to have bought the policies in a pilot project. However, a local newspaper found the most common anticipated "unfortunate occurrence" was being stood up by a partner - something not covered by the policies.
And we Americans worry about someone's cell phone going off.
Theatre audiences in Russia will soon be able to buy insurance against a terrorist attack or some other catastrophe befalling them during the performance.
'One-off' policies against "unfortunate occurrences" will be available for between 5 and 200 roubles (£1-£4) when booking seats. It is a delayed response to the Moscow hostage crisis in 2002, when 129 audience members were killed after Chechen militants seized a theatre.
The policies were devised by the ministry of culture and Konda, an insurance company in St Petersburg, and pay out a maximum of £1,000 in case of death, disabling injury or medical treatment lasting longer than four months.
Andrey Moskovich, an insurance specialist, said Russians were wary of long-term policies. "People just don't understand life insurance," he said. "They prefer short coverage for concrete events."
About a third of visitors to theatres in St Petersburg are said to have bought the policies in a pilot project. However, a local newspaper found the most common anticipated "unfortunate occurrence" was being stood up by a partner - something not covered by the policies.
And we Americans worry about someone's cell phone going off.
posted by THALATTA! Theatre International at 11:17 AM
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