Countries express support for SIGA at historic United Nations Special Session

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.

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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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