Sports bodies and personalities join to form new Sport Integrity Global Alliance

More than 50 high-profile organisations and sporting personalities have come together to join a global coalition which aims to promote integrity and fight corruption in sport.

Representatives of sport, government, academia, sponsors and other international and corporate organisations gathered in Madrid this week to create the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA).

SIGA aims to be seen “as an independent and neutral coalition involving international stakeholders from across multiple industry sectors (and) has been launched with the sole purpose of protecting the integrity of sport and will work to drive forward key reforms across good governance and financial transparency in sport.”

The development of SIGA follows increasing calls, from stakeholders across all corners of industry involved in and supporting sport, for the establishment of a global, independent and neutral sport integrity body and the launch builds on the momentum resulting from informal meetings held in New York, Geneva, Brussels, Madrid and London between November 2015 and February 2016.

Formed by parent organisation the International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS), which is primarily funded by the Qatari Government, SIGA has asked members to sign a Declaration of Core Principles on Sport Integrity.

These principles include commitments to:

• Support the establishment of an independent betting monitoring platform, capable of providing sport integrity intelligence alerts to sporting, law enforcement, betting operators and government stakeholders to assure early warning advice;
• Support the establishment of independent monitoring, audit and oversight in relation to all sport-related development programs and financial transactions
• Establish international financial integrity standards, appropriate financial reporting, audit and compliance practices, a strong “culture of compliance” and full transparency in the allocation, distribution, use and scrutiny of sports development and solidarity funds;
• Maintain a consistent zero-tolerance policy across the sports industry towards all forms of corruption, bribery and illicit financial dealings;
• Implement the highest governance standards, including but not limited to monitoring of potential conflicts of interest, risk management procedures, gender equality at the board level, independent directors, meaningful stakeholder representation in the decision-making organs, transparent and accountable financial management and proper oversight;
• Assess existing club ownership regulatory frameworks and develop fit and proper club owners and directors’ tests.

ICSS President Mohammed Hanzab stated that the formation of SIGA was an “important milestone” which will drive reforms and strengthen governance.

Hanzab explained “we are proud to be part of this multi-stakeholder coalition and join forces with other like-minded organisations that are concerned and committed to protect the future of sport.

“Sport reflects the best human values, as well as inspiring and promoting character-building qualities.”

Speaking from the perspective of an international sport-focused organisation and from his experience at the helm of European football, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros Chief Executive of ICSS EUROPE added “sport faces a truly decisive moment.

“In order to emerge from the unprecedented crisis that continues to shakes its very foundations, collective and rapid action is needed.

“Sport cannot act alone. To achieve the kind of deep reforms needed and meet peoples’ demands and expectations, sport needs the support from the international community of stakeholders, including commercial partners, governments, NGOs, international organisations and other key representatives.

“That is why this wide community of leaders and like-minded organisations have called for a sport integrity global alliance. An alliance committed to achieving the highest levels of integrity, transparency and accountability in sport. This is our indeclinable duty. To sport and the wider society it serves.”

The meeting concluded with all stakeholders urgently calling for other like-minded organisations committed to the adoption of a set of global standards for integrity and good governance in sport to join forces with the alliance.

For further information email: info@siga-sport.com

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