Sport Industry Group

IOC to expand betting monitors- 7 Sep 2010 00:00:00

The International Olympic Committee is to expand its monitoring activity of betting syndicates after admitting its concern that such activity is not isolated to cricket and that the London 2012 Olympics could be a target for match-fixing.

In the wake of the scandal engulfing the Pakistan cricket team, the IOC has stated its intent to clamp down on gambling-related corruption and will monitor betting patterns on all qualifying events as well as the Games themselves.

The governing body has been monitoring betting activity for the last two years since the Beijing Games but London is expected to be the first instance where qualifying events, and the major international federation events in the build-up to the Games such as World Championships, are also examined.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has repeatedly warned in recent years of the danger to the integrity of the Olympic movement posed by betting-related corruption.

Speaking earlier this year, he stated: ‘It is clear that betting, through the financial benefits it generates, provides huge opportunities to sports organisations. However, there is a significant problem when betting leads to the manipulation of competitions and therefore threatens the integrity of sport.

‘Cheating driven by betting is undoubtedly the biggest threat to sport after doping. For the sports movement it is crucial to develop a unified strategy and to collaborate closely with public authorities and the legal gambling industry. Only then will we be able to address efficiently this complex issue.’

A deal with betting exchange Betfair is thought to be in place that will give the IOC access to greater information, including the identity of those laying suspicion bets to lose, should a breach of the integrity rules be suspected.

The IOC is also pressing for all Olympic sports to adopt uniform codes of practice and rules in relation to betting. It wants all participants to be banned from betting on their sports, a ban on the sharing of 'inside information', and strict guidelines on commercial relationships with bookmakers.