The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) has awarded European Aquatics the Bronze Certification under the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS) for Good Governance in Sport. This milestone was officially announced by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA’s Global CEO during a meeting of the European Aquatics Board in Antalya, Turkey.
The SIRVS certification process for European Aquatics began in 2022 with a comprehensive gap analysis, designed to assess governance practices and identify areas for improvement under the Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport. Following this assessment, European Aquatics collaborated with independent auditors to implement the necessary reforms to achieve Bronze Level Certification, demonstrating its commitment to enhanced governance, transparency, and accountability.
With this certification, European Aquatics joins a distinguished group of organisations that have undergone independent SIRVS certification, following the European Rugby League (2021) and Liga Portugal (2023). Additionally, other sports organizations, such as the Swiss-based FIDE (International Chess Federation) and Brazilian football giant São Paulo FC, have already embarked on their respective certification processes, underscoring the increasing recognition of SIGA’s governance standards across multiple sports.
Congratulating European Aquatics for their achievement in receiving the SIRVS Bronze Certification, SIGA’s Global CEO, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, stated:
“European Aquatics outstanding accomplishment underscores their unwavering commitment to improving governance and fostering accountability within the Sport. We are proud to witness their leadership and the exemplary standard they have set for other sports organizations to follow. I have no doubt that their example has been noted by the entire sports industry and will motivate other sports organizations to embark on their own governance journeys.
The SIRVS Bronze Certification marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to excellence and SIGA is excited to continue supporting European Aquatics in their pursuit.
It is also rewarding to witness, once again, the importance of SIGA’s Universal Standards and the SIRVS system in driving meaningful change within global Sport. We look forward to seeing what the future holds as European Aquatics, and their national federations continue to push the boundaries of governance excellence.”
Antonio José Silva, President of European Aquatics, commented:
“Since I was first elected as President in 2022 I was determined to work hard to transform and enhance the governance capabilities of this organisation, firstly by engaging in a rigorous evaluation process with SIGA as set out in their SIRVS certification process, and then doing everything in our power to address our deficiencies and make concrete improvements. This has been a team effort, for which I thank my Bureau colleagues, National Federation and other stakeholders since good governance and integrity in sport is something that requires team effort. I am very proud that our practical and ongoing efforts have placed integrity at the heart of everything we do. While we are delighted to have achieved the bronze standard of the SIRVS certification, this is just the start, and we are committed to moving a step up on the podium to achieve Silver status as soon as possible. I would like to thank Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros and his SIGA team for all their support and for continuing to accompany us on this journey.”
SIGA invites all sports organizations to follow European Aquatics’ example by adopting the Universal Standards on Sport Integrity and undergoing the SIRVS certification process. Elevate your governance standards and join our global movement for sport integrity.
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ABOUT SIRVS
As part of its mission to promote integrity and accountability in the sports industry, SIGA developed the Sport Integrity Rating & Verification System (SIRVS), an independent assessment mechanism that evaluates organizations against the highest standards of governance, financial integrity, sports betting integrity, and youth development and protection. The European Rugby League and Liga Portugal were the first organizations to receive SIRVS Certification, with several others already having undergone the Gap Analysis process — a crucial step toward full compliance and certification.
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ABOUT EUROPEAN AQUATICS
European Aquatics is the governing body for aquatic sports – namely artistic swimming, diving, high diving, swimming, open water swimming, water polo and masters representing Europe – and affiliated to World Aquatics. It has 52 national aquatic federations affiliated as members.
European Aquatics organises the European Aquatics Championships; which involve four of the five disciplines (swimming, open water swimming, diving and artistic swimming) and the European Water Polo Championships. European Aquatics is also responsible for the European Masters Swimming Championships, and three single discipline championships – short course (25m) swimming as well as diving and artistic swimming. An Open Water Swimming Cup Series is organised each year, as is an extensive Water Polo Club competition system consisting of 3 tiers for men and women. European Aquatics also delivers continental junior and youth championships for all disciplines.
As an organisation, European Aquatics is also committed to Development with active Aquatics Social Responsibility and European Aquatics Academy programmes.
European Aquatics strongly believes aquatics to be both a sport and a recreational activity that all members of society should have access to, regardless of their age, gender, disability, or ethnicity.
For more information, contact [email protected].
ABOUT SIGA
SIGA is the world’s leading organisation for Sport Integrity. We are creating a whole new landscape for the sports industry by delivering independent global rating and certification for world Sport to ensure it is governed and operates under the highest integrity standards: The SIGA Universal Standards.
Funded by our Members, SIGA is a non for profit global independent organisation with one aim: To ensure the sport industry is governed under the highest integrity standards so that the values of sport are protected.
SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
SIGA is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non for-profit association, and comprises of the following continental subsidiaries: SIGA AMERICA, SIGA EUROPE and SIGA LATIN AMERICA.
For more information on SIGA, including its vision, mission and reform agenda, please refer to the website: www.siga-sport.com and FAQs.
To contact SIGA, please email: [email protected].
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