29 November 2017; Geneva: The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) gathered over 30 UNrecognised
countries yesterday in a historic Special Session at the Palais des Nations, home of the
United Nations Office at Geneva.
During the Session, all Ambassadors and senior diplomats that took to the floor endorsed the work of
SIGA and expressed explicit support for SIGA's mission to promote good governance and help
safeguard the integrity of sport.
The wide-range of diplomatic representatives were also joined by senior UN officials and some of
SIGA's industry-leading expert members. The Session addressed the positive role that sport can play
in modern society and the action that needs to be taken to enhance its governance and strengthen its
integrity.
The Session was co-hosted by HE Ambassador Maurizio Enrico Serra, Permanent Representative and
Ambassador of Italy to the International Organisations in Geneva, and David Chikvaidze, the Chef de
Cabinet of the Director General of the UN Office in Geneva. SIGA Chairman Franco Frattini chaired
proceedings, which are expected to be the beginning of a great collaborative relationship between
SIGA, the UN and UN members.
Speaking after the session, SIGA Chairman Franco Frattini said:
"It was a huge honour to represent SIGA at the United Nations, an organisation built on the principles
of ethics and integrity. To hold a Session with over 30 countries, supported by a number of SIGA
members, and to have such positive and encouraging discussions, is a significant step. For SIGA to
receive overwhelming support from senior officials from the diplomatic community, not to mention
the UN itself, is an outstanding achievement and reflects the universal importance of our cause. The
prospects ahead are very positive and encouraging."
SIGA Coordinator Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros echoed the same sentiments and added:
"The positive steps taken here must now be used as a springboard. We must use the momentum of
the discussions we had, the expert opinions we heard and the overwhelming endorsement we
received from the diplomatic community, to continue building towards our goal of a more transparent
and trusted sporting landscape. At the end of January, SIGA will host its third Sport Integrity Forum in
Rome. This is a great opportunity to hear from the same voices we heard today, as well as many more,
as we continue to drive a collective effort to a sports industry we can fully trust and love once again."
During his intervention at the Session, David Chikvaidze, the Chef de Cabinet of the Director General
of the UN Office in Geneva, said:
"Sports owe their universal appeal to the values they embody: equality, justice, cooperation,
competition and tolerance. However, sport's power to shape and sustain our values is not a given. It
depends entirely on whether the contest is fair. On whether fair play is respected. For sports, integrity
is everything. That is why it is my great pleasure to welcome the Sport Integrity Global Alliance to
the Palais des Nations on behalf of the Director General.
"Your 'Declaration of Core Principles on Sport Integrity' embodies the fundamentals on which to build
universal standards that can protect the values of fairness and integrity. I would also like to thank His
Excellency Mr. Franco Frattini for his leadership on this issue. At this time of uncertainty, your efforts
to promote public integrity cast ripples far beyond the world of sports. Your alliance is part of an effort
to restore integrity, transparency and accountability in our communities."
The full list of participants can be found in the attached.
###
Notes to Editors
Contact:
For more information, please contact comms@siga-sport.com
Visit our website at www.siga-sport.net
Find us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SIGAlliance
About SIGA
SIGA is an independent and neutral coalition of more than 100 international multi-industry members
and supporters. It is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia,
international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services
companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity
throughout sport.
SIGA’s members and supporters include Mastercard, Deloitte, the European Professional Football
Leagues, Dow Jones, PwC, the World Bank, the International Centre for Sport Security, the Basel
Institute on Good Governance, the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Caribbean Association of
National Olympic Committees, Special Olympics, the Spanish Football League, the Portuguese Olympic
Committee, eSports, World Taekwondo, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and World
Snooker.
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