PtG Article 11.12.2013

UNESCO and ICSS partner up to protect sports integrity

In a move to step up the fight for integrity in sport, UNESCO and the International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS) have formed a strategic partnership that will seek to address corruption and match-fixing globally.

The collaboration between the two organisations is planned to include initiatives aiming at preventing and fighting the manipulation of sports competitions among other things through the development of ‘methodologies for sport integrity standards and good practice’ and educational programmes.

Another objective will be to support the implementation of the declaration ‘Preserving the integrity of sport’, adopted at MINEPS V, the 5th UNESCO World Conference of Sport Ministers held in Germany earlier this year. Social inclusion projects to prevent sports related violence are also on the agenda.

“Individual nations can’t prevent international threats to sport integrity but collectively they can. With its international expertise, the ICSS is a strategic partner for UNESCO in the area of manipulation of sport competitions. Together we can enhance our scientific, multi-stakeholder approach to this problem,” said Alexander Schischlik, Team Leader of UNESCO’s Anti-Doping and Sport Programme, according to the press release announcing the cooperation.

“Through UNESCO’s intergovernmental mandate and influence, the ICSS’s ongoing work for and commitment to the eradication of corruption in sport now takes a significant step forward,” said Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS.

SOURCE: UNESCO