International and Continental Federations in action

FIBA and IIHF train NF integrity officers

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) have both started an innovative initiative to develop a network of integrity officers across their National Federations (NFs).

Separately, the two federations organised training sessions for their respective integrity officers in October and November, supported by the OM Unit PMC. At both meetings, the Unit explained the collaboration process needed between the IFs and their NFs in potential or real cases of competition manipulation. It was also an opportunity to present the Unit’s structure, its activities and the awareness-raising tools and material available to the basketball and ice hockey communities. At the IIHF session, participants also learnt about more general topics related to ethics, integrity and governance, including the mission of IPACS. The NF integrity officers were encouraged to get in contact with the integrity officers (SPOCs) of the NOCs in their respective countries and to coordinate future action efficiently.

World Rowing conducts awareness-raising measures at World Championships
This summer, World Rowing used two of its major events, the Junior World Championships (in July in Varese, Italy) and the World Championships (in September in Racice, Czechia), as an opportunity to educate a large number of elite rowers and their entourages about the threat of competition manipulation. The OM Unit PMC supported these efforts with a dedicated booth at the Junior World Championships. At the World Rowing Championships in Racice, the educational activities on site were led by Believe in Sport ambassador Saulius Ritter, a former professional rower from Lithuania.

World Rugby appoints Independent Ethics Officer

In August, World Rugby appointed Neil Hallett as its first Independent Ethics Officer, supporting the adoption of the International Federation’s new Integrity Code, which was a key outcome of its recent wide-ranging and independently led governance review. Hallett brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in the New Zealand Police for 35 years, retiring in 2020 as Detective Inspector, working across multiple national jurisdictions and cultures. He also joins with significant sports integrity and intelligence experience, having worked across a number of sports, including three World Cups in different sports in New Zealand. In his role, Hallett will act independently of World Rugby, and his responsibilities include the assessment of the eligibility of individuals to be appointed as World Rugby officials, and investigating potential breaches of the Integrity Code. Learn more here.

UEFA launches "Fight The Fix" academic programme
UEFA Academy, together with the University of Lausanne (UNIL), has designed a new academic programme for the integrity officers of UEFA’s member federations, called “Fight the Fix” (FTF). The programme provides professionals working in the field of anti-match-fixing with the opportunity to develop the competencies required to lead investigations and prosecute those involved. As well as supporting participants in acquiring an in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon, understanding the latest developments and leveraging monitoring tools, it also addresses the conditions and procedures of investigation and prosecution, from A to Z. Recently, the OM Unit PMC participated in the programme to give a presentation on “Coping with suspicious betting information – experience sharing”. Discover more about the programme here.

If you are part of an IF and are keen to learn more about how to protect the integrity of your sport, contact omunitpmc@olympic.org.