Doha: The Unesco-ICSS MINEPS V follow-up meeting concluded yesterday with over 60 international experts agreeing to fulfil recommendations and commitments adopted in the Declaration of Berlin on the manipulation of sports competitions.
Organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the meeting saw experts from a diverse range of countries and sectors participate in two days of extensive discussion across topics to combat match-fixing.
Key areas discussed include, national legislation to combat match-fixing; dialogue and cooperation; information and data exchange; funding and resourcing models; and prevention models against match-fixing.
Further consultation at a regional level, including an Asia-Pacific Working Group, will be undertaken which will result in concrete recommendations for MINEPS VI.
Following his participation at the meeting, G Kannan, Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor, Attorney General’s Chamber, Singapore, said: “Match-fixing is a problem no one country can tackle by itself. It is a problem that urgently requires best practices of countries to be shared so common priorities can be set to combat match-fixing.
“We have to work together on an international level to combat the problem. This is an excellent forum in starting that process.”
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Ingela Melo, Director, Division for Youth Ethics and Sport, Sector for Social and Human Sciences, Unesco, said: “The last two days have provided opportunity to gather international experts from a diverse set of countries and sectors to identify a pathway to implement MINEPS V commitments on the manipulation of sport competitions.
“On behalf of Unesco, I wish to underline enhanced cooperation between governments, regulatory authorities and sports federations, which will be key to realising the vision of MINEPS V and policy commitments made by countries to combat match-fixing.”
In his closing remarks, Mohammed Hanzab. President, ICSS, said: “While today is a significant step forward in the fight to protect sport, we must continue to work together to develop a global approach to combatting match-fixing and organised crime in sport. “I am confident that after this follow-up meeting, we will deliver with Unesco solid recommendations on the manipulation of sports competitions to be tabled at MINEPS VI. “I look forward to continuing our work with Unesco, as we work towards developing a coordinated international platform to fight match-fixing and protect sport from the real threat of organised crime.” The Peninsula
