In an electrifying keynote at the Eurafrican Forum, in Portugal, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA and a member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council delivered an inspiring speech that set the scenes for the panel discussion “Sport: Fostering Integrity and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development”, and underscored the transformative power of Sport, the challenges the industry is facing, and the solutions SIGA is developing to advance Sport Integrity. Emanuel made a powerful call to action to Euroafrican leaders to act now to ensure the Sport Industry is governed under the highest integrity standards.
“Sport is in the air. Sport is popular. Sport is appealing. Sport is gaining its role in today’s society and economy. But that comes with a responsibility,” Macedo de Medeiros stated as an alert. This responsibility, he argued, extends beyond mere entertainment. It involves using sport as a vehicle for social, economic, and cultural development, echoing the sentiment of Nelson Mandela, who believed in the power of sport to inspire and bring about change.
Macedo de Medeiros acknowledged the challenges facing the sports industry. “We live, ladies and gentlemen, in a world, in a planet, in dire straits,” he said, pointing to issues like climate change, poverty, and social tensions. To do its job and overcome these challenges, “Sport must lead by example, demonstrating good governance, integrity, and accountability”.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros emphasized SIGA’s efforts to usher in a new era of integrity, transparency, and accountability in sport: “We mobilized efforts, beliefs, energies, resources, knowledge and expertise to endow Sport with the most advanced set of Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport, Financial Integrity, Sports Betting Integrity, and Youth Development and Protection.”
SIGA’s Global CEO also highlighted the critical role of the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS). “We have the silver bullet: a set of universal standards. Now, if Sport really wants to be recognized as a top industry, it needs to be accountable. And this comes with the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS),” he explained. This system ensures that sports organizations adhere to and comply with the highest integrity standards, reinforcing the credibility and trustworthiness of the entire industry.
One of the key announcements Macedo de Medeiros made during his speech was the development of a new set of standards on Environment and Sustainability. “Sport is much more than what we see on the fields,” he asserted, highlighting the broader social responsibilities of the sports industry.
Macedo de Medeiros called on stakeholders to take decisive action, urging sponsors and organizations to invest in the integrity of sport. “We need deeds. We need results. We need reforms. We need change. So, don’t be a bystander. Pick your side. There is no room for neutrality. It’s time for action and this action must come now,” he urged.
In his concluding remarks, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros celebrated the Portuguese diaspora’s leadership and commitment and all working towards a brighter future for Sport. “Your presence in this room speaks eloquently. It shows the leadership that exists in all of you. I appeal to that,” he said, urging collective efforts to drive the sports industry into a new era of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
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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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