Co-operation with intergovernmental organisations and WADA
Strengthened partnerships with the Council of Europe, INTERPOL, UNODC and WADA are driving a new wave of global cooperation, with targeted workshops and high-level discussions enhancing efforts to prevent competition manipulation across regions.
Following the recent renewal of partnerships with INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the 2026-2029 period, the IOC has continued to bolster its cooperation framework through a series of capacity-building initiatives.
As part of the IOC-INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Initiative, a regional workshop on the prevention of the manipulation of competitions took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 30 June and 1 July 2026. The workshop brought together representatives from NOCs and law enforcement agencies from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. Contributions were also made by the UNODC, the Council of Europe, FIFA and CAF, while ANOCA was also represented.
The workshop sought to enhance cooperation between sports organisations and law enforcement authorities. As highlighted by Marlene Gadzirayi, Secretary General and CEO of the Zimbabwe NOC: “For NOCs, it is essential to fully understand our role in preventing competition manipulation. This workshop not only strengthened our knowledge on regulation, education and case management, but also helped build trust with law enforcement agencies in our respective countries.”
The workshop was opened by athlete ambassador, Nchimunya Mweetwa, who shared his personal experience of competition manipulation, outlining how he was approached, his involvement in the case, and the profound consequences it had on both his personal and professional life.
In parallel, UNODC convened an Expert Round Table (ERT) on “Tackling Corruption in Sport” on 22 May 2026 in Vienna, Austria, within the framework of its Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime.
The meeting, organised alongside the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption, brought together representatives from governments, sports organisations and the IOC. Discussions underscored the importance of international cooperation, particularly the need for improved sharing of account-based information between betting operators and sports organisations.
The ERT was structured around three thematic sessions: (1) illegal betting, competition manipulation and organised crime, with a focus on strengthening cooperation; (2) financial crime in sport, governance vulnerabilities, and risks related to athlete transfers; and (3) mutual expectations between governments and the sports movement. A final session explored practical next steps, inviting participants to identify concrete and achievable follow-up actions.
Looking ahead, a joint IOC-UNODC-INTERPOL regional workshop is planned for 1 and 2 December 2026 in Uzbekistan. It will bring together stakeholders from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, further expanding regional cooperation efforts. A pre-workshop webinar was held on 17 June for the preparation of the participating NOCs.
Macolin Community:
Beyond the hosting of the 12th Follow-Up Committee of the Macolin Convention in Lausanne, the Unit also virtually attended and delivered a presentation at the Group of Copenhagen meeting on 5 and 6 May in Cyprus. The OM Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (PMC) presented the Unit’s intelligence work around the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Looking ahead, a virtual dialogue on “sporting-related competition manipulation” is to be jointly organised in September by the Council of Europe and the OM Unit PMC.
WADA Symposia
As part of its collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the OM Unit PMC contributes to WADA’s regional symposia. A dedicated PMC session was delivered during the WADA Regional Symposium Webinar Series for Europe and Africa on 22 June 2026, bringing together athlete ambassadors, law enforcement representatives, and other key stakeholders to discuss current challenges and best practices in preventing competition manipulation.
The OM Unit PMC will further contribute to the WADA Symposium in Lima, Peru, on 13 and 14 August 2026, where a dedicated session will include representatives from INTERPOL and NOCs, athlete ambassadors and CONMEBOL. These engagements aim to enhance cross-sector dialogue and improve coordinated approaches to safeguarding sports integrity.