CGF and ICSS EUROPE sign agreement to protect and safeguard sport

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has announced a collaboration with the International Centre for Sport Security Europe (ICSS EUROPE) to work together to help protect and safeguard Commonwealth sport.

As part of the far-reaching cooperation agreement, the CGF and ICSS EUROPE will work in partnership to promote the highest standards of good governance, transparency and integrity in sport. The CGF will also collaborate with ICSS EUROPE as it looks to help encourage the development of a global independent, neutral, multi-stakeholder integrity alliance for sport.

The agreement is built on the shared belief that sport is an activity that, when governed correctly and with integrity, is a powerful tool that contributes to achieving a number of goals, including promoting health and well-being, physical activity, education, youth empowerment, gender equality, social cohesion and inclusion, cultural integration and community development.

As part of the collaboration and in line with its commitment to service sport and support organisations across all sectors, ICSS EUROPE will also independently audit the CGF’s governance model and assist with the development of a code of conduct on sports betting and integrity to maintain the Commonwealth Games body’s position as a global leader in the field of sports policy, governance and integrity.

The signing took place at a reception in the House of Commons with the special permission of the Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. The function gathered key stakeholders from sport, business and government to further ongoing efforts to establish a new global alliance for sport integrity, address current challenges facing the sporting industry and develop new thinking around much-needed and long-overdue reforms.

David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said:

"As a values-driven movement connecting athletes and communities across the Commonwealth, we are proud to be a leading voice in the drive to protect, promote and safeguard sport and look forward to a successful collaboration with ICSS EUROPE and its partners.

"Good governance and strategic partnerships are key pillars of Transformation 2022, and today’s announcement amplifies our responsibility and commitment to use Commonwealth sport to build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities globally."

Mohammed Hanzab, Founder and President of the ICSS, said:

"The mounting and complex challenges to the integrity of sport are more apparent than ever. The ICSS was founded to benefit and serve sport and we remain determined to work with key organisations across all sectors, including governments and sports bodies, to stand up to the growing threats that sport now faces.

"This new collaboration with the Commonwealth Games Federation is an important milestone for ICSS EUROPE and we acknowledge and fully support the vital role that the CGF plays in developing sport across the Commonwealth.

"On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for its commitment to safeguarding sport and look forward to advancing efforts with them to address the very real challenges sport now faces to its integrity and credibility."

Dr Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of ICSS EUROPE, said:

"Recent events have shown that there is a real and urgent need for a new approach to the integrity and governance of sport. What is also clear is that this new approach must be credible, coordinated, holistic and global.

"This agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation demonstrates a growing momentum developing across a range of sectors to protect and safeguard sport integrity. It also represents a unique opportunity for ICSS EUROPE and CGF to make a real difference to sport across the Commonwealth, as well as advance ongoing discussions with key stakeholders about establishing an independent sport integrity global alliance."

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