On Tuesday, more than 50 representatives from 40 Summer and Winter International Federations gathered at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, for an interactive workshop on the prevention of competition manipulation. The event was organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and included federations involved in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The workshop was led by the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), which presented updates on the three main pillars of its strategy: regulation and legislation, awareness-raising and capacity-building, and intelligence and investigations.
Inclusion of National Federations
One of the key topics of the workshop was how to involve National Federations in sports integrity initiatives and maximize the impact of values-based education to prevent unethical behavior. Participants shared ideas on improving collaboration with National Federations and co-creating tools and campaigns with the IOC to raise awareness among athletes, coaches, and referees about the risks of competition manipulation.
Additionally, the OM Unit PMC presented three new guidelines designed to support stakeholder activities, including the implementation of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.
Athletes as ambassadors of sports integrity
The workshop also featured athlete ambassadors and integrity experts from National Olympic Committees, who shared their experiences. The OM Unit PMC highlighted its ambassador program for the ‘Believe in Sport’ campaign, which now includes two official groups: one managed by National Olympic Committees or International Federations, and another directly appointed by the OM Unit PMC to support IOC activities.
Olympic medalist and rower Saulius Ritter, now Secretary General of the Lithuanian Rowing Federation, stated: “Being aware of a threat is the first step to avoiding it. Peer-to-peer communication is very effective, and it’s encouraging to see our global network of ambassadors growing ahead of Milano Cortina 2026, Dakar 2026, and Los Angeles 2028.”
Intensified preparations for Milano Cortina 2026
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games approaching, the workshop allowed International Federations to update their knowledge on the latest developments in the prevention of competition manipulation. Heike Grösswang, Secretary General of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, emphasized: “This workshop was extremely useful to refresh knowledge, coordinate efforts with the IOC, and plan the next steps with our National Federations.”
Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM Unit PMC, added: “The active participation of International Federations demonstrates their commitment to sports integrity. The more we combine our efforts, the more successful we will be in safeguarding competitions.”
Educational activities and innovative tools
During the workshop’s practical sessions, participants explored how to use International Federations’ communication platforms for awareness-raising activities, existing rules, and innovative educational methods. Discussions also focused on the profile and role of athlete ambassadors in promoting sports integrity.
These meetings are part of the IOC’s efforts to engage all Olympic Movement stakeholders in protecting the integrity of sports competitions. Since its creation in 2017, the OM Unit PMC has led these initiatives, supported by a $10 million fund per Olympic cycle, allocated by the IOC in 2023 to continue this work.
