Source: www.insidethegames.biz
By Mike Rowbottom
June 15 - The next step in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) battle against illegal betting has been taken in Lausanne today, where a high-powered international working group including Britain's Minister for Sports and Olympics, Hugh Robertson, set out the way forward to eradicate the growing problem which IOC President Jacques Rogge says is putting sport "in danger".
Robertson was one of three Sports Ministers attending, the others being Chantal Jouanno of France and Attila Czene of Hungary.
The group, established on March 1 this year, has agreed to strengthen cooperation between sports, Governments and betting agencies, and has highlighted three main areas of urgent action – education, monitoring and legislation and regulations.
"We foresee increased cooperation in the monitoring and coordination of the fight against illegal and irregular betting in sport," said Rogge.
"Today saw our first proactive steps toward that goal and an increased level of commitment in our joint fight against this threat to sport."
Chaired by Rogge, the meeting was attended by Government Ministers from several countries as well as representatives from Interpol, the United Nations, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, athletes and the IOC.
Back in March, the President said the IOC had been prompted to act following "a clear signal from governments, Interpol and international federations that there is illegal betting that threatens the credibility of sport."
He added: "It is a big problem in the entire world.
"There is no safe haven."
Groups of experts will be formed by August to work on the three key areas.
They will evaluate existing education programmes and determine joint programmes to be implemented, as well as working towards a code of conduct.
There will also be an evaluation of how to improve consistency in monitoring, intelligence exchange, and analysis, and of how to create common principles in strengthening judicial and police cooperation.
The sub-groups are scheduled to hold their first meetings between September and November, with their reports to the Working Group being presented before the end of 2011.
The IOC first took preventative measures to tackle the problem of illegal and irregular betting five years ago, and has been proactive in its fight ever since.
The IOC's Code of Ethics was amended in 2006 to forbid all participants in the Olympic Games from betting on Olympic events, and subsequent measures have been aimed at raising awareness of the issue, safeguarding the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport in general, and strengthening collaboration with partners inside and outside the Olympic Movement.
Contact the writer of this story at mike.rowbottom@insidethegames.biz