London: Speaking at the opening of the Securing Sport 2014 yesterday, International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) President Mohammed Hanzab underlined the organisation’s commitment to protecting sport by hosting two milestone events to coordinate international efforts and enhance policy in the area of sport integrity
As part of its drive to safeguard sport against the unprecedented threat from corruption, match-fixing and sport betting fraud, ICSS will partner with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to host around 100 government officials, technical experts and leaders in sport at a special technical meeting in Doha in the first half of 2015.
This landmark meeting will be the first time international experts meet to implement the detailed recommendations on the manipulation of sports competitions outlined within the Declaration of Berlin.
Hailed as a “beacon for future national and international sports policy”, the Declaration of Berlin was adopted by 600 participants from 121 countries at the fifth UNESCO World Sport Ministers Conference (MINEPS V) in May 2013.
It seeks to improve and enhance international cooperation between governments and all other sport stakeholders on issues of access, investment and integrity of sport.
Some of the key measures that the Declaration of Berlin has called for include: Improved sports governance, a zero-tolerance policy within the sport movement — especially against doping and the manipulation of sports competitions — greater collaboration in the early detection of manipulation, preventive measures and monitoring in accordance with national and international law, an effective, proportionate disciplinary regulation and a range of preventive measures.
During his opening speech at Securing Sport 2014, Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS President, said: “Sport is now under threat in an unprecedented way and the response to these threats must be united, international, and bold.
“I am proud that the ICSS will host the initial technical meeting alongside our partners at UNESCO, which will be the first significant stepping-stone towards realising the vision of MINEPS V, and will for the first time, bring senior government officials, technical experts and leaders in sport together in one room to make the recommendations made on the manipulation of sport competitions in the Declaration of Berlin a reality.”
“This meeting of international experts will play an important part in ICSS’s drive to mobilise international efforts and enhance the integrity and credibility of sport,” Hanzab said.
The ICSS also hosted a special closed-door meeting at Securing Sport 2014 on sports corruption, which was attended by sports ministers from Portugal, Singapore, Cape Verde, Angola and international organisations like UNESCO, Council of Europe, WADA, Commonwealth Secretariat, OECD and international experts.
The forum examined issues involving corruption in sport and overcoming barriers to international co-operation on sports integrity issues.
In the meeting, participants agreed, in their personal capacity, on the importance of follow-up to principles and requests set out in, and moving to practical implementation of international conventions and instruments such as the Declaration of Berlin and the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions.
In particular, the meeting highlighted the need to implement education programs and capacity building initiatives, support countries and regions to assist them in the creation of national integrity platforms and cross-institutional and regional collaboration in creating work programs to preserve the integrity of sport.
Speaking about the ministerial forum, Hanzab said: “Securing Sport 2014 has today gathered individuals with the power, will, and determination to see that international sport moves in the right direction in the future.
“This special ministerial forum was another important step in engaging key countries, regions, international experts and sport ministers and ensuring that protecting the integrity of sport continues to stay high on the agenda.
“We are all custodians of sport and we owe it to every athlete and sports fan to protect its integrity,” Hanzab added.
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