On the Scene - Securing Sport Kicks Off in Doha

(ATR) Sport security and match-fixing were among the topics for discussion on the opening day of the Securing Sport conference in Doha.

High-profile speakers included Mohammed Hanzab, president of the International Centre for Sport Security, UN sports advisor Wilfried Lemke, Dahlan Al-Hamad, an IAAF vice-president, and John Abbott, chairman of Interpol’s Integrity in Sport initiative.

In his opening remarks, Hanzab said the conference was designed to provide delegates with new ideas to strengthen their respective missions and improve the safety, security and integrity in sport.

Hanzab spoke about the development of ICSS’ initiatives in the fields of: prevention; development of international standards; development of indicators and assessment mechanisms; and in awareness and provision of advice, guidance and education.

The ICSS’s work includes a major communication campaign launched in partnership with the Qatari Olympic Committee to protect the belief in sport and its values and to promote positive messages around sport.

"Our team of experts has contributed to the safety and security of several events such as UEFA Euro 2012, the UEFA Champions League and IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship," he said, adding that its work extended to events’ evaluations at the London Olympics and 2013 African Cup of Nations.

"In the next 12 months we intend to continue on this path and deliver results in full cooperation with inter-governmental organizations, the sport movement, academia and civil society," he said.

In a panel discussion about discrimination in world sport, particularly in the context of racism in football, Lemke said sport had the power to help unite nations in conflict. He referenced North and South Korea and the problems experienced by wome footballers in Palestine.

Also speaking in the same session was Honey Thaljieh. She was the first woman to play football in Palestine overcoming various social, political, and institutional challenges, and became the first captain of the first Palestinian women's national football team.

Saying she was called a tomboy when she played football, the realization came to Palestinian authorities of its power to inspire change. Thaljieh said football sent a "strong message for them to believe in their ability… doesn't matter how many challenges".

In another session panellists including Moya Dodd, one of the four candidates vying for the sole female seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee examined how to engage effectively with the media and to utilise social media to deliver communications strategies and security plans for a major event.

Dodd told delegates that social media such as Facebook and Twitter had transformed the relationship with fans. "Everyone has a microphone now," she said.

Dodd said social media was vital to helping the growth of women’s football, with the FIFA women’s World Cup and Olympics producing global stars.

"It’s about connecting fans with opportunities that Facebook offers. Passion means growth… an effective social media plan can drive this," she added.

Speaking about her campaign to become the first elected female on the FIFA Executive Committee, Dodd said she was sharing her views on inclusion in football through social media; she has a website and Twitter page.

"It’s better be there listening and responding in the right way than to be seen as not available. Being accountable can only make us better at what we do."

Heinz Palme, director of business development at the ICSS and a former FIFA and UEFA press officer, said it was important to create a media plan for an event well ahead of its staging.

For the Germany 2006 World Cup, the campaign slogan was ‘A time to make friends’. He said the key was to "involve and build relationships" with media, "that’s what we did in Germany".

Social media networks were in their infancy for the Germany World Cup but Palme said they could have been better used by organizers of the South Africa World Cup.

"Start to plan, to think ahead. South Africa could have been more successful. There wasn not adequate media. It could have made people feel more welcome," he claimed.

A session asking the question on whether sports federations were equipped to combat match-fixing featured Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of the European Professional Football Leagues, Brett Clothier, integrity manager at the Australian Football League and Abbot of Interpol.

Abott said federations did not have enough resources to tackle the problem. He said there were a number of areas federations should focus on to prevent match-fixing and to investigate any incidents. Partnership with stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies and betting companies and coordination of data and information were crucial, he said.

Clothier said it was vital federations had adequate investigative powers built into their governance, not just to probe athletes but all sport personnel.

"The most important thing to realize is sport can’t sit back and let law enforcement do the job. They can’t always be trusted to put time and resources into investigation," he told the conference.

De Madeiros said protecting the ethical values of sport was important to maintaining its reputation and winning public trust.

"Matchfixing is a threat to credibility, reputation… a complex threat. It’s never been so urgent to form partnerships. To all those who threaten our integrity – we promise war," he said.

He said the best weapon in preventing match-fixing or manipulation of results was education.

Securing Sport continues Tuesday with a program that includes a focus on Brazil and Russia as global sporting powerhouses.

Reported in Doha by Sheila Hula written by Mark Bisson.

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