Sports Movement agrees on unified strategy to tackle irregular betting

These recommendations, which will serve as guidelines for all stakeholders involved, call for prevention, education and information for all involved in sport, as well as increased collaboration with governments.

Gathered in Lausanne to look at the current opportunities and challenges posed by betting in sport, representatives of the IOC, International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the betting sector and public authorities held constructive discussions throughout the day.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, who opened the seminar, said:  “It is clear that betting, through the financial benefits it generates, provides huge opportunities to sports organisations. However, there is a significant problem when betting leads to the manipulation of competitions and therefore threatens the integrity of sport. Cheating driven by betting is undoubtedly the biggest threat to sport after doping.”

“For the sports movement it is crucial to develop a unified strategy and to collaborate closely with public authorities and the legal gambling industry. Only then will we be able to address efficiently this complex issue,” Rogge concluded.

SOURCE: Olympic.org press release