By Andrew Warshaw at the Sorbonne University in Paris
September 11 – A new initiative aimed at raising awareness among young athletes of the dangers of match-fixing and manipulating results was launched here today in a joint enterprise between the Qatar Olympic Committee and the International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS).
Under the slogan “Save the Dream”, the campaign will involve 11 high-profile athletes from different sports around the world, led by Italian football star Alessandro Del Piero (pictured above and below, centre) who delayed joining his new club, Sydney FC in Australia, to be present at the announcement ceremony at Sorbonne University.
ICSS officials shrugged off the suggestion that having Del Piero on board was somewhat of an own goal given the fact that his former club, Juventus, were embroiled in a match-fixing scandal six years ago and whose current coach, Antonio Conte, was recently banned for 10 months for past misdemeanours.
Del Piero, they pointed out privately, was the perfect role model for promoting the ICSS anti-corruption message.
“Protecting the credibility and integrity of sport is essential if we want to inspire a new generation of young people to take up sport,” the 37-year-old Italian told delegates at the three-day conference that brings together key stakeholders and academics.
“A few years ago [UEFA President] Michel Platini said that match-fixing was the biggest danger to the future of our sport and the facts are bearing him out.
“It’s sad to think that the situation has become so serious that it requires the same sort of attention as organised crime.
“I believe in sport, I believe in the laws of the pitch.
“It’s with pride that I take on the role of captain of this group.”
The Qatar-based ICSS, which wants to improve safety and security at sports events around the world, does not yet have sufficient teeth to make a lasting impact but is becoming an increasingly visible body as it tries to spread the word of best practise.
Qatar itself, hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup (whose chief executive Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi is pictured above left) is doing everything it can to use sport as a tool for self-promotion and Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (pictured above, right), secretary general, Qatar Olympic Committee, said he hoped the Save The Dream initiative would “inspire a new generation of athletes to safeguard the integrity of sport for years to come”.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general Christophe De Kepper said that although member IOC federations and athletes were generally clean, there was no room for complacency.
“Sport is only a reflection of society and there will always be somebody ready to attack the integrity of sport so we need to stay vigilant,” he said.
“We have to identify the threats and reduce risks.”
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