UNESCO, ICSS to host joint meeting to follow up on Declaration of Berlin recommendations

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) will host the first technical meeting on the manipulation of sports competitions as a follow-up on the recommendations and commitments of the Declaration of Berlin, adopted in 2013 by the 5th World Conference of Sport Ministers (MINEPS V).

Taking place in Doha, Qatar, on the 16th and 17th September 2015, this landmark meeting on match-fixing in sport will gather over 60 government officials, international experts and leaders in sport.

Hailed as a beacon for future national and international sports policy, the Declaration of Berlin was adopted by 600 participants from 121 countries at the 5th UNESCO World Sport Ministers Conference (MINEPS V) in May 2013. It seeks to improve and enhance international cooperation between governments and all other sport stakeholders on issues of access, investment and integrity of sport.

Some of the key recommendations outlined within Declaration of Berlin with respect to the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions include:

· Improved sports governance

· A zero-tolerance policy within the sport movement, especially against doping and the manipulation of sports competitions

· Greater collaboration in the early detection of manipulation

· Preventive measures and monitoring in accordance with national and international law

· An effective, proportionate disciplinary regulation combined with specific national and international legislation

Ms Ângela Melo, Director, Division for Youth Ethics and Sport, Sector for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO said:

"Sport can be a powerful vehicle for social inclusion, reconciliation and peace, gender equality, and youth empowerment, with benefits that extend far beyond the grounds of stadiums. There is nothing like sport to bring women and men from different cultures together around the shared values of fair play, mutual respect and team spirit; sport has a universal language."

"The transmission of the social values of sport and the activation of its various individual and collective benefits is subject to the protection of its credibility and integrity."

ICSS President Mohammed Hanzab said:

"It is a great honour for the ICSS to host this meeting with UNESCO and follow-up on the historic recommendations outlined in the Declaration of Berlin in the fight against match-fixing.

"Gathering technical experts and officials from all four corners of the globe, this meeting will be the first significant stepping-stone towards realising the vision of MINEPS V and will provide an important platform to strengthen international policy to combat manipulation in sport."

For more information, contact:

UNESCO

George Papagiannis

g.papagiannis@unesco.org

+33 (0)1 45 68 17 06

ICSS

Will Shand

will.shand@theicss.org

+974 333 416 55 / +44 77 52 73 1548

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