11th Global Anti-Corruption Conference with focus on integrity in sport
The 11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has convened in Doha from 15 to 19 December 2025, bringing together State Parties, sports organisations, anti-corruption experts, civil society representatives and international organisations to advance global efforts to combat corruption. This year’s special events agenda placed a unique emphasis on the role of sport in global integrity efforts, with the IOC President addressing the Plenary via a video message and the IOC co-organising three thematic side events.
As the primary policymaking forum of the Convention, the COSP gathers every two years to review progress in implementation, address emerging threats and adopt resolutions that guide international anti-corruption strategies.
IOC President highlights power of collaboration
In a pre-recorded address to the Plenary, IOC President Kirsty Coventry underscored the responsibility shared by all stakeholders to protect sport from corruption, stating:
“It takes all of us, in our individual capacities, to come together and ensure that we work towards the same goal: strengthening the integrity of our institutions and of sport itself. This is why I encourage more governments, organisations and stakeholders to join us. The power of collaboration is clear – when we lift each other up, we are stronger than the sum of our parts. And together, we send a powerful message of trust and integrity to athletes and fans around the world.”
Special theme: “Game On – United Against Corruption in Sport”
On 15 December, a full afternoon was devoted to the topic of fighting corruption in sport, with a focus on strengthening cooperation among State Parties, sports bodies and key international stakeholders. Discussions centred on promoting transparency, accountability and practical solutions to detect, prevent and respond to wrongdoing in sport.
Outcomes included:
- enhanced understanding of the corruption threats facing sport and effective measures to counter them;
- practical insights into legal, policy and operational tools to tackle competition manipulation effectively;
- stronger cooperation among governments, sports organisations and integrity bodies in line with the spirit of UNCAC;
- the launch of the International Partnership against Corruption in Sport (IPACS) Guide on the Prosecution of Bribery in Sport.
IOC leads high-level side events
The IOC co-organised three official side events on the opening day, each addressing critical integrity challenges in sport:
- Safeguarding Sport from Corruption, which explored specific threats and highlighted the measures needed to tackle them effectively.
- The Anti-Sports Manipulation Playbook, which showcased practical tools, proven approaches and the critical role of effective criminal legislation and effective enforcement in protecting sport from this threat.
- United Against Sports Corruption: New Guidance and Shared Actions to Safeguard Sport, which involved the launch of the new IPACS publication “Guide on the Prosecution of Bribery in Sport”.
These sessions brought together legal experts, regulators, sports executives and policy specialists to exchange best practices and strengthen collective action.