The International Day Against Corruption marked a milestone for the Olympic Movement, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the creation of the Joint Integrity Unit, a mechanism designed to reinforce transparency and fair play ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. This initiative emerges at a time when trust in major sports competitions requires not only vigilance but also a real capacity for coordinated response to potential misconduct. With this announcement, the IOC seeks to send a clear message: integrity is an essential part of the Olympic experience.
In collaboration with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, this unit will begin full operations from the opening of the Olympic Villages on 30 January 2026 until their closure on 24 February. Its main function will be to ensure an agile information-sharing system between disciplinary bodies and relevant authorities, following a model that has proven effective since London 2012. Internal voices at the IOC, such as its Director of Ethics and Compliance, Giuseppe Deleonardis, have emphasized the importance of coordinated work to anticipate, detect and responsibly manage any indications of misconduct.
Strategic collaboration to safeguard integrity
The approach behind the Joint Integrity Unit includes a broad understanding of potential threats to the Olympic spirit. Deleonardis highlighted that integrity violations can take many forms—from competition manipulation to bribery or unethical behavior by accredited individuals—and that the IOC will work closely with police, the Italian judicial system and other authorities to share information that enables rapid action. The collaborative structure has been designed to respond to complex scenarios, strengthening the Olympic Movement’s capacity to address situations that could undermine trust in the Games.
This framework draws on positive experiences from recent editions, particularly Paris 2024, where scenario-based preparation helped define clear roles among the various stakeholders. For Milano Cortina 2026, the expectation is to build an even more robust model, supported by international bodies and a network of specialists experienced in investigations, monitoring and compliance. Figures such as Friedrich Martens, head of the OM Unit for the Prevention of Competition Manipulation, have underscored the importance of this network in maintaining active and coordinated oversight during the Olympic celebration.
Intelligence, prevention and education for a safer environment
One of the pillars of the Joint Integrity Unit’s work will be preventing match-fixing, a risk that in recent years has required more sophisticated tools and international cooperation. The OM Unit will again use its Integrity Betting Intelligence System, which helps identify suspicious behaviors in real time, in direct coordination with organizations such as the ADM, the CONI, and international regulators. Thanks to these efforts, risk assessments have already been shared with federations and national committees to anticipate vulnerabilities in each Olympic discipline.
Complementing this technical component is an educational approach aimed at strengthening the culture of integrity among athletes, delegations and officials. Through the “Believe in Sport” campaign, a group of 10 athlete ambassadors will work on the ground to raise awareness about the risks associated with competition manipulation and promote responsible behavior. This human-centered dimension, built on direct engagement, reinforces technological tools and control mechanisms, supporting a comprehensive commitment to transparency and fair play at Milano Cortina 2026.
