SIGA took a major step forward in its mission to help usher sport into a new era today as it was officially incorporated as a legal entity during the SIGA General Assembly.
SIGA’s incorporation was formalised during an official signing ceremony of SIGA’s unanimously approved statutes by SIGA’s founding members – Deloitte, Dow Jones Sport, Basel Institute on Good Governance, ICSS, ADIT, World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), Cyprus Sport Organisation, Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), European Aquatics (LEN), Plano Nacional de Ética no Desporto, Fundação do Desporto, International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), McCain Institute, National Olympic Committee of Portugal, National Olympic Committee of St Vincent & The Grenadines, National Olympic Committee of Trinidad and Tobago, Pivot Sport, Quest, Spanish Football League, Special Olympics, Swedish Football League, National Olympic Committee of Kosovo, Ethisphere, and the Turkik Council. SIGA is incorporated as a Swiss association and SIGA is currently in the process of identifying possible locations in Switzerland for its headquarters.
During the General Assembly, which was attended by representatives from SIGA’s membership of more than 80 organisations, SIGA also announced that it was in the process of developing pilot projects with four sports organisations – European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), CANOC, ESIC and European Aquatics. Each organisation will implement SIGA’s Universal Standards and SIGA will also deliver bespoke training, education and capacity building projects for each of them to help them make practical and demonstrable progress. These pilot projects will help inform SIGA on how to best support sports organisations in the future.
The SIGA Council said:
“Today was a historic moment for SIGA as we showed the world that we truly are here to stay. We know that we are only at the beginning of our journey; however, we are confident of how much can be achieved by working with our members and the wider sports movement. It is only through collaboration that we can make a lasting and meaningful difference in safeguarding the integrity of sport.
“We are excited to be working on pilot projects with four prestigious organisations and have no doubt together we will be able to support them in making real progress. Our long-term goal is to ensure that as many organisations as possible are implementing SIGA’s Universal Standards for the benefit of sport and all those who cherish it.”
The General Assembly also heard presentations on SIGA’s interim budget and long term-budget as well as the organisation’s media strategy. The next SIGA General Assembly will be in July.