November 15 – With SIGA’s Sport Integrity Week coming near to its closing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the side lines of the Cityscape Global 2024 event, SIGA has unveiled three legends of football as the latest editions to their SIGA Champions roster.
Former Brazil and Arsenal star Gilberto Silva, Arsenal and England legend Sol Campbell and international football executive and founder of Global Football Service Nicola Innocentin (Italy), join former Fulham, Manchester United and France star Louis Saha as the football players in SIGA’s ambassador programme.
The SIGA Champions group now totals 23 athletes and coaches. Their commitment to te programme is to promote the highest standards of integrity in sport.
“As a former player and now a dedicated advocate for youth development, I see first-hand how essential integrity is to every stage of a young athlete’s journey. Sport has the unique power to inspire and transform, and it’s our duty to protect it from any form of harm or exploitation,” said Silva.
“Through SIGA and my own initiatives with Striver, I am committed to creating a fun and safe abuse-free space and promoting education and health, ensuring young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential in an environment grounded in respect and integrity.”
SIGA CEO Emanuel Macedo de Madeiros said that the players lend not just their fame to the SIGA sports integrity agenda, but also a commitment to effecting change.
The new SIGA Champions join a group including Miguel Oliveira, MotoGP Racer, Majlinda Kelmendi, Olympic Champion Judoka, Rosa Mota, Olympic Champion Marathon Runner, Cristina Goncalves, Paralympic Champion Boccia Player.
In total the SIGA Champions encompass high-level athletes and coaches from 10 countries, across 12 sports.
“Football is a universal language, a source of pride, and a global stage for unity. Yet, in recent years, racism and discrimination have continued to cast a shadow over Sport, compromising the integrity of the game and alienating individuals who deserve equal respect and opportunity,” said Campbell.
“Racism in football is not only an attack on individuals but a threat to the spirit of respect, unity, and fair play that sports embody. My commitment to this fight is rooted in my core belief in Sport Integrity. Football at its finest is a platform for unity, where every individual is valued and every fan feels a sense of belonging. Racism, prejudice, and exclusion contradict the very essence of the game and deny individuals the opportunity to fully participate.”
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