The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) / International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) Special Session on “Integrity and Anti-Corruption in Sport” exposed the grave situation that faces Global Sport to a world audience. The message was clear: the Sport Industry is under attack, with transnational criminal infiltration increasing and corruption undermining the entire Sport Eco-System.
This session, which took place as a key component of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) elucidated the underlying issues, but, crucially, also identified the strategies and solutions that, through collective action, will help mobilise the critical mass needed to deliver a tangible strategic and actionable range of Anti-Corruption initiatives.
To these ends, in a ground-breaking move that signified a step forward in the battle against corruption in Sport, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA, and Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini, SIGA Independent Chair, outlined a series of impactful proposals with a view to immediate implementation. The proposals included a universal call to all Sport Organizations and Governments to promote, adopt and implement the SIGA Universal Standards on Sport Integrity, and an invitation for all Sport Stakeholders to undergo the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS)..
In a proactive response to helping to find solutions to overcome the resource challenges faced by many sport organizations, SIGA’s representatives also proposed the creation of a Global Sport Integrity Fund. This fund, a long-standing commitment of SIGA, recommends contributions are received from various sources to fund relevant initiatives, including allocating a percentage of revenues generated from the commercial exploitation of broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and sports betting revenues to fund Sport Integrity initiatives. To move this much-needed project forward, the establishment of a multi-stakeholder task force was announced during the Special Session. The same applies to a percentage of pecuniary sanctions determined by judicial decisions in cases of corruption, money laundering, and other crimes related to Sport.
In closing, and in an effort to help bridge the knowledge gap surrounding Corruption Prevention in Sport, SIGA also announced plans to provide essential training, education and capacity-building services to law enforcement, the judicial system, governments, and Sport Organizations to further enable the entire Sport Industry to be better equipped to prevent and fight against this threat.
This multi-dimensional and progressive roadmap is the latest progressive step that advances SIGA’s mission to elevate Anti-Corruption in Sport to a Global level. It builds upon SIGA’s inaugural SIGA World Congress on Global Leadership & Anti-Corruption in Sport held in Rome in February 2020 which paved the way for Anti-Corruption in Sport to enter mainstream consciousness. As a result, in 2021, under the Italian presidency of the G20, Anti-Corruption in Sport was selected as one of its three priorities for the year, following the direct intervention of SIGA. However, more than two years have now passed since this positive affirmation and action is now needed to advance these intentions. As such, SIGA’s participation in the #COSP10 UNCAC emphasised this fact to world leaders and made them aware that Corruption in Sport is damaging democracy in their countries.
The session featured insightful discussion on the main corruption risks within the sports sector, offering innovative solutions and best practices to tackle them effectively. Distinguished speakers, including Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini, Chair of SIGA and co-Chair of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA, and Prof. Andrew Spalding from IACA shared their expertise and insights, in a panel moderated by Jaroslaw Pietrusiewicz, Officer-in-Charge of IACA.
Of particular significance and urgency, was SIGA’s call for the criminalization of corruption in sports by all UN Member States. To this end, a multi-stakeholder task-force will be set up to assess the implementation of this measure worldwide, with the results to be made publicly available in the interests of transparency and accountability.
The message was clear, unambiguous and well-delivered. Corruption is a clear and presents danger to Sport and to the Global Economy. Anti-Corruption solutions have been created and defined within the SIGA Framework and the time for collaborative action to implement these solutions is now.
Click to watch Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros opening address
for the 2023 SIGA Anti-Corruption Week
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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.
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