NOCs gear up for Paris 2024
In the weeks leading up to the Olympic Games this summer, the IOC, via the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), has reached out to all National Olympic Committees by conducting webinars with the five NOC Continental Associations for Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. The objective is to brief all NOCs on the resources available and the educational measures needed for their Olympic delegations.
OM Unit PMC Senior Manager for Policy and Institutional Relations Evangelos Alexandrakis said of these efforts: “Since April, we have briefed more than 320 NOC Chefs de Mission for Paris 2024 and NOC integrity experts from all continents so they can share the rules and important tips on how to prevent competition manipulation with their athletes, as well as the entourage. Spreading this knowledge as wide as possible is the best way to prohibit unethical behaviour before it occurs. The feedback from the NOCs has been very positive, and we remain available with advice on site during the Games.”
Knowledge sharing at its best
“The session helped all NOCs further understand how we could plan awareness-raising activities for our delegations in preparation for Paris,” said Greek NOC integrity expert Fotini Karamanlaki, who participated in the webinar, organised jointly by the IOC and the European Olympic Committees (EOC), on 22 April. “We also learned from each other, as many NOCs shared their experiences, and this was quite inspirational. We will also be planning an activity for our delegation based on the ideas we got from the webinar, while we look forward to taking part in the communications campaign.”
The Europe and the Americas webinars also featured presentations from INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Council of Europe.
As a positive side effect, the webinars have strengthened the relationships and collaboration between the OM Unit PMC and individual NOCs, as Giovanni Alamilla from the NOC of Belize confirmed: “Based on what we have learnt, we are already in touch with the OM Unit PMC and planning an activity for our delegation.”
One example of NOC action already underway, complementing the initiatives driven by the OM Unit PMC, comes from Pakistan, where the NOC organised a sports integrity workshop in mid-May to educate its Olympic delegation members and all National Federations (NFs) about the rules in place.
Pakistan's 100m champion Faiqa Riaz, who participated in the national workshop, said: "Attending the POA [Pakistan Olympic Association] workshop about competition manipulation was incredibly valuable for us as we prepare for the Paris Olympic Games. It provided some necessary information about the four rules, which I believe all athletes should be aware of, and reminded us of the importance of upholding the highest standards for our sport and for our nation."
From Asia to the Americas: the NOC of Mexico put together a short training film for all its delegation members, and Ismael Hernández, the NOC’s Athletes' Commission Chair who oversaw this project, said: “Sometimes, we believe competition manipulation is distant, but we must always be alert. The best example is that a week after the publication of the film, there was a case of manipulation in Mexico regarding something specific that was mentioned in the clip: not sharing relevant inside information like the team's strategy.”
He added: “These types of educational activities are new to Mexico, and with the help of the Unit, we will have better-informed athletes who will be able to make better decisions, and protect themselves, other athletes and the Olympic spirit.”
Similarly, the NOC of Brazil organised a webinar for its staff and all NFs in mid-June. Team Brazil athletes are also being provided with educational videos and a manual on the prevention of competition manipulation, which will be complemented by face-to-face meetings organised by the NOC during the Games.
In Oceania, the NOC of New Zealand involved its athlete ambassador Alexis Pritchard in an online master class on spotting competition manipulation.
Meanwhile, some NOCs have made it a mandatory requirement to pass tailored courses or training sessions. In Iceland, the team members must provide a certificate to show that they have passed the training. In addition, there are several mandatory info sessions for the team, in which match-fixing and other ethical issues are discussed. Irish delegation members must pass an online course as an eligibility requirement for Paris 2024. The Irish NOC has also created an online portal with educational resources on a variety of topics, including competition manipulation.
Many more positive initiatives in this field, often involving athlete ambassadors, are being organised by several NOCs across the globe as part of their preparations for Paris 2024.