“Integrity in Sport is not preserved by intentions – it is preserved by action.” With this clear call to action, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Co-Founder and SIGA’s Global CEO, sets the tone for the 9th anniversary of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), reaffirming the organisation’s purpose at a time when the credibility of global Sport continues to face growing pressure.
Founded on 31 January 2017, SIGA was created in response to a profound global crisis of trust in Sport. In a video message delivered as part of the anniversary communications, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros recalled that the organisation’s creation was not intended as a symbolic milestone, but as a defining choice.
“Nine years ago, a choice was made. Because in moments like this, there are only two options: responsibility, or irrelevance.”
Reflecting on the context in which SIGA was born, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros underlined that “SIGA was not created to be comfortable” at a time when Sport’s credibility had been eroded and its legitimacy openly questioned.
Over the past nine years, SIGA has evolved into a truly independent, neutral and global multi-stakeholder coalition, bringing together Sport organisations, governments, international institutions, global business and civil society around one shared conviction: integrity matters.
“What began as a bold idea fast became a truly global movement. In just nine years, SIGA has changed the paradigm from tolerance of risk to ownership of responsibility.”
Through the establishment of the Universal Standards on Sport Integrity, the creation of the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS), and the launch of the Sport Transparency Index, SIGA has contributed to professionalising Sport Integrity as a discipline grounded in accountability, transparency and independent scrutiny.
However, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros stressed that the 9th anniversary does not mark a moment for complacency. “This is not a victory lap,” he stated. “This is happening now. On our watch.”
It is within this context that SIGA has launched the TAKE ACTION campaign, extending the anniversary message into a broader call for collective responsibility and measurable action across Sport and society.
“When Sport integrity is attacked, violated or ignored, we must respond. With courage over comfort. With unity over silence. With action over words.”
Through TAKE ACTION, SIGA invites Sports stakeholders to join SIGA as members, adopt the Universal Standards and go through SIRVS. It also reaffirms its readiness to work with all stakeholders prepared to lead by example and translate commitment into measurable and verifiable action.
“Integrity is no longer optional. The question is not if you will act, but when, and with whom”, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros concluded.
Click below to watch Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros’ message.
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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: comms@siga-sport.com.