Preventing competition manipulation at major multi-sport events
In February, the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC) supported the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the European Olympic Committees (EOC) with conducting awareness-raising measures at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, and at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Bakuriani, Georgia, respectively.
2025 Asian Winter Games
Following a workshop on the prevention of competition manipulation organised by the OCA, INTERPOL and the IOC in December, the OCA, in cooperation with the OM Unit PMC ambassador Ayako Rokkaku (baseball, Japan), ran an educational booth during this major event. The booth, which was operational every day, attracted more than 1,000 athletes and officials and, according to OCA integrity expert Jamyang Nagmyal, turned out “to be a resounding success”. Visitors to the booth were educated on the different risks of competition manipulation through fun activities and the rules in place. They were also invited to ask any questions they may have on the topic.
Engaging and fun activities
Looking back at these Games and her involvement, Rokkaku highlighted: “The card game was very simple and effectively helped a large number of participants to deepen their understanding of the prevention of competition manipulation. A standout positive moment was having participants read the flyers out loud. To make it more memorable, we read it together in rhythm, making it a fun and engaging experience. This approach helped reinforce the key messages effectively.”
2025 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival
Also in February, a similar activation took place during the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Bakuriani, Georgia. Following collaboration on previous EYOF editions, the OM Unit PMC empowered EYOF ambassadors and alumni to raise awareness about the topic among the athletes and their entourages and use appealing information material.
Natasa Jankovic, Programme Leader of the European Youth Olympic Ambassador (EYOA) programme and member of the EOC Culture and Education Commission, stated that “numerous young athletes have found out about the phenomenon and the rules in place”, looking forward to further working together in view of the upcoming Summer EYOF in North Macedonia.
Already prior to the event, several NOCs ran awareness-raising activities for their delegations, ensuring that the participating athletes and their entourage members are familiar with the relevant rules and risks.