Monica Seles and Juliette Kayyem join ICSS Advisory Board

Doha, Qatar; 7th September 2012: The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the international organisation that specialises in safety, security and integrity in sport, has today announced the appointment of Monica Seles and Juliette Kayyem to the ICSS Advisory Board.

Seles, a former world number one, is one of the most-decorated female player’s in tennis history, winning a career total of nine Grand Slam titles and 53 WTA tour singles titles before retiring from the game in 2007. In 1990, Seles became the youngest ever winner of the French Open, aged just 16 years and six months, when she beat then-world number one, Steffi Graf, in straight sets. Injured in an on court attack, Seles will provide the Advisory Board with a unique perspective into security at major sport events, as well as offering a wealth of experience within the international media as a former athlete.

The ICSS has also appointed Juliette Kayyem to its Advisory Board. Kayyem, a lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, brings with her 15 years experience in national security and foreign policy, including Assistant Secretary to President Obama for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.

Kayyem has also managed security efforts for a number of major sport events, including Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Caribbean Games and the World Equestrian Games. As part of her role on the Advisory Board, Juliette will offer considerable insight into the role of Government policy in bidding for and hosting major sport events, as well as advising and supporting the ICSS on best practice in working with local authorities and government departments.

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said; “Monica’s and Juliette’s appointments to the ICSS Advisory Board are important milestones in the history of the organisation. As a legend in her sport, I am sure Monica will bring with her the unique insight that only comes with playing sport at the highest level. Alongside this, Juliette, with her extensive experience in sport and government, is an exciting addition to our team and I am looking forward to working with her and Monica on a range of projects over the coming months, including our forthcoming Integrity Symposium and 3rd International Sport Security Conference.”

Speaking on her appointment, Monica Seles said; “I am delighted to be joining the ICSS Advisory Board and would like to thank them for giving me this opportunity to help make the world of sport a safer, more secure environment for everyone involved. I hope that, through my experiences as an athlete, I can contribute to the important work and knowledge sharing that the ICSS is currently undertaking in the field of sport safety, security and integrity.”

Juliette Kayyem said; “With many new nations looking to host major international sport events and federations striving to grow their sports in new territories, the ICSS, with its team of international experts, is a much needed hub of knowledge, expertise and advice. Effective collaboration with governments is now a crucial element to hosting successful major sport events and I look forward to sharing my experience and working closely with my colleagues on the ICSS Advisory Board to ensure safe, secure and clean sport.”

Seles and Kayyem join a distinguished collection of security and integrity experts on the ICSS Advisory Board, including Lord John Stevens (Chairman of the ICSS Advisory Board and Former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police), Khoo Boon Hui (President of Interpol), Peter Ryan (Security Advisor to the International Olympic Committee), Ali Soufan (CEO, Soufan Group), Eric Drossart (Former Chairman and Chief Executive of IMG Europe, Middle East and Africa), Horst Schmidt (Vice President, Local Organising Committee for 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™) and Rick Parry (Former CEO of the Premier League and Liverpool Football Club).

For more information contact: Heinz.Palme@theicss.org

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