London, 16 May 2018: The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is hailing strong progress 100 days after its General Assembly in Rome on 31 January, which saw the election of its CEO, a 17-member Council and other internal organs.
In the face of mounting challenges in the sport industry, the coalition continues to strengthen its operational and governance structures to accelerate the implementation of its reform agenda under its new leadership, which is headed by SIGA Chairman Franco Frattini, Justice and Chamber President to the Italian Supreme Administrative Court, and CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros.
Representing the common interests of a wide community of member organisations and committed supporters, the global organisation has prioritised establishing appropriate legal, structural and financial frameworks so that it can continue its strong growth, while harnessing the considerable expertise of its members to develop long-overdue, and much needed, global reforms to safeguard the integrity of sport and to restore the public’s trust in the industry.
It is supporting, through training and education, the adoption and implementation of its pioneering Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport, Financial Integrity in Sport, Sports Betting Integrity and Development and Protection of Children and Young People in Sport amongst members. Significant progress has also been made on the development of the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS), which will assess organisations’ level of compliance with the SIGA Universal Standards.
Delivering on its promise to usher sport into a new era, SIGA leadership has overseen a number of impactful initiatives so far in 2018.
To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, a SIGA Special Session on Good Governance in Sport – Piercing the Gender Glass Ceiling, led to the SIGA Global Female Mentorship Programme in Sport and the signing of a declaration on gender equality by SIGA supporters. In April, a second Special Session on Countering Abuse and Trafficking of Minors in Sport heralded the launch of a multi-stakeholder action plan against child abuse, smuggling and trafficking in sport.
Ahead of the US Supreme Court’s ruling that repealed the federal ban on sports betting, SIGA gathered, just last week, global leaders in sports betting integrity for an inaugural Expert Summit on Sports Betting, Integrity and Media, to develop expertise-driven and action-orientated solutions to address issues facing the industry, including a demand for greater regulation and more meaningful international cooperation.
On top of this, SIGA has intensified its own cooperation with external stakeholders, putting in place partnership agreements with organisations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe and being invited to sit on the European Union’s Expert Group on Sport Integrity.
Reflecting the existing excellent institutional relations and cooperation between SIGA and international organisations, the fourth edition of the SIGA Sport Integrity Forum and General Assembly is being hosted by the United Nations, in Geneva, on 26 and 27 of July 2018.
SIGA Chairman, Franco Frattini, said:
“One hundred days after the election of our SIGA CEO and Council, we continue to move with confidence towards our reform agenda, underpinned by a strong, steadfast and collective desire to usher in a new era for sport.
The influence of SIGA continues to grow at many levels and across many nations and I look forward to providing a further update at our next SIGA General Assembly and Sport Integrity Forum at the United Nations in Geneva in July.”
SIGA CEO, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, said:
“With reformist vein, constructive sprit and a proactive attitude, we are making significant strides towards our strategic vision and driving much-needed change in the industry. I am very proud of the work being carried out by SIGA and our members in this important task.
The progress made in these first one hundred days bears testimony to the great potential that exists, and demonstrates our capacity to realise our collective mission. The far-reaching potential and sound influence of SIGA are no longer a pipe-dream. They are a certainty.”
– ENDS –