With only a little over three months to go before the first World Cup match kicks off, one thing is becoming clear: Hosting a once-in-a-generation sports event comes with a once-in-a-generation workload.

County staff provided a glimpse of that on Thursday when they presented a mega update on all the things that have been coming together as the international soccer tournament draws ever nearer.

The “high level” overview, described by World Cup special project manager Bo McCall as “just the tip of the iceberg,” was an hour and a half with nine county staffers talking at breakneck speed about special events, bus routes, charging stations, disease outbreak response, watch parties and much, much more.

“It will continue to be a lift over the next 97 days,” said County Commission Chair Mike Kelly. “This spaceship that we’ve built together in space is now upon re-entry. We’re feeling some of the heat, the panels are shaking a little bit but that’s all to be expected and soon enough there’ll be a nice landing. We’re excited to welcome the world.”

The first match in Kansas City is June 16 between two teams that chose the area as their home base — Argentina and Algeria.

Tick tock.

Multi-lingual translation devices

Devoted soccer fans travel from all over the world to the World Cup. Although many will speak English, it’s a good bet that some of them won’t. Law enforcement and ambulance service providers as well as the library system administrators are training to use machine translators to help.

The county sheriff’s office will use pocket talk translators and some translation tools by AXON, a company that also makes body worn cameras that have built-in translators. MED-ACT, the county ambulance service, has a language line that staff can call for help.

Library officials also are adding some translation devices in the expectation that people may stop for help.

Internet bandwidth and phone charging

County librarians are working to increase internet capacity at all library locations, and have also upgraded firewalls to keep network traffic secure and meet the demand, said Tad Twidwell, who presented for the library.

They also intend to get some multi-port charging lockers at select locations. The lockers would be able to be secured and are self service, Twidwell said.

County parks

The county’s biggest watch party site will be at Theatre in the Park in Shawnee Mission Park.

The free gathering to watch games on the park district’s new 20-by-30-foot LED screen will happen on multiple dates, which haven’t yet been finalized. Park and Recreations Director Jeff Stewart told commissioners there will be food trucks around the perimeter, but that the park district would be the sole provider of any alcohol.

The World Cup events will serve as the summer intermission for Theatre in the Park and will be family friendly, Stewart said.

All of the audio visual equipment has been received and a license to show the games procured, he said.

The event is free, but attendance will be limited to 2,500 people at each. The district does not plan to require tickets, he said.

Updates on the watch parties and more details on other World Cup events at the parks can be found here.

The park district oversees Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, which is also the location of the Inn at Meadowbrook, where the England team will stay. However the team’s presence will only cause a few security-related changes for people who want to use it during the tournament, said Stewart and officials at the Prairie Village Police Department.

The park district will temporarily close a small section of the trail that runs next to the hotel, Stewart said.

Capt. Josh Putthoff, of the Prairie Village police, said entrance into the park will be as usual during the tournament, except for the hotel parking lot, which will be restricted. Playgrounds and other park features will be open as usual.

Public health and safety

Law enforcement, ambulance and public health officials have been busy running training sessions and collaborating on how to handle the surge of tourists and all the temporary changes the county and cities are making to accommodate them.

Sheriff’s office personnel will check out the new bus stops and note any safety concerns, while also getting ready to assist if needed at any of the watch parties, said Undersheriff Cindy Henson.

At MED-ACT, staffing management is already underway to be sure there are enough people on hand for the crowds, said Division Chief Chris Winger. Vacations will be restricted and trainings and meetings will be suspended during the tournament, he said. And the service will also collaborate with other metro services when needed for the tournament and the events around the nation’s 250th birthday July 4.

The influx of visitors could also have a public health impact, said Charlie Hunt, director of the health department. “Obviously when you have a large number of people come in from all over the world, the risk of infectious disease is higher when people are gathering together in close proximity,” he said.

Hunt said his department is focusing on messaging. The health department has also run through some scenarios in case of an outbreak, but authority to isolate or quarantine would be more complicated, he said.

The medical examiner’s office also is working on establishing contacts with consulates of all the teams that play here, he said.

Public transit

Substantial work establishing temporary and pilot bus routes during the tournament has already been done, but there are still details to be worked out on hours and start dates, said Assistant County Manager Aaron Otto. Transit officials are considering a schedule for the circulator route among Johnson County cities in which buses arrive about every 20 or 25 minutes, he said.

He also noted that some cities have bought or intend to buy shelters for the bus stops.

But so far, the buses won’t run to the Theatre in the Park fan fest — at least not until more drivers can be recruited and vehicles procured, he said.

More information on getting around the Kansas City area during the World Cup can be found here.

Other fun things to do

County and city leaders have planned a variety of other events to celebrate the World Cup (starting with last summer’s kickoff party). Some can be found on the new Johnson County United webpage, which also has information on the bus system.

Park district special attractions include the Unity Cup, a weekend adult soccer tournament at the Heritage Park Soccer Fields, and soccer-themed garden spheres at the Helen S. Cuddy Rose Garden at Antioch Park. The spheres will be made by artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Forty flags created by artists from the fabric of retired hot air balloons will decorate Meadowbrook Park, Stewart said.

Everyday Democracy: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in Johnson County, has been open since Feb. 7 and will still be at the county museum through the World Cup and the country’s 250th anniversary.

The FIFA World Cup Original Trophy Tour will be in Kansas City April 18-19. The global tour started in Saudi Arabia January 3 and will visit all the host cities of the U.S., Mexico and Canada during its North American leg.

Keep reading: The countdown is on to the World Cup — How are JoCo cities preparing?