Corruption poses a threat to the integrity of sports and its social and economic benefits. Corruption in sports manifests in various forms, including fraud, money laundering, abuse of authority, competition manipulation, illegal betting, irregularities during the organization and execution of sports events, athlete transfers, and ownership of sports organizations, often with transnational characteristics.
Concerned with preventing corruption and strengthening integrity in sports, the UNODC and Brazil's Ministry of Sports will co-organize the International Seminar "Safeguarding Brazilian Sports: International Seminar on Integrity and Corruption Prevention in Sports" on January 22-23, 2025, in Brasília, DF. The event aims to raise awareness about the various manifestations of corruption, other crimes, and irregularities related to sports in Brazil, as well as to share best practices, experiences, and tools to effectively combat corruption and related offenses in sports, with a particular focus on the Brazilian context. The event will bring together speakers from various institutions, including Brazil's Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Federal Police, ENCCLA, CONMEBOL, IOC, COB, and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF).
With the mandate to support Member States in implementing international instruments such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), UNODC promotes international cooperation and provides technical assistance to Member States to prevent and combat crimes in the areas of drugs, organized crime, corruption, and illicit trafficking. In this regard, UNODC implements the project "Safeguarding Sports from Corruption and Economic Crime," which aims to support governments, sports organizations, and relevant stakeholders in preventing corruption and economic crimes in sports.
At the national level, Brazil's Ministry of Sports is mandated to develop sports-related policies, foster exchanges with public and private organizations, both domestic and international, promote sports activities, encourage public and private initiatives to support sports, and plan, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate programs and actions aimed at democratizing sports practices and promoting social inclusion through sports.
For the program, speakers, and registration for the seminar, visit: https://www.gov.br/esporte/pt-br/seminario-internacional-sobre-integridade-e-prevencao-a-corrupcao-no-esporte
