Key Takeaways
- The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is committed to ensuring the integrity of sport and has adopted the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.
- Competition manipulation is strictly prohibited under the COC Code of Ethics and can result in serious consequences, including disciplinary action and sanctions.
- COC participants are expected to abide by the rules contained in the Olympic Movement Code and the COC Code of Ethics, which include not betting on their own sport, not manipulating competitions, and not sharing inside information.
- Reports of suspected, attempted, or actual competition manipulation can be made to the International Olympic Committee, Sport Integrity Canada, or the COC directly.
- Every COC participant and athlete plays a role in protecting the integrity of Team Canada and the Olympic Games.
Introduction to Fair Play and Integrity
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is dedicated to upholding the core values of fair play and integrity in the Olympic Movement. To achieve this, the COC has adopted the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, which aims to prevent competition manipulation and ensure the integrity of sports competitions. The COC works closely with trusted partners, such as the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions and Sport Integrity Canada, to educate the sport community about the risks associated with competition manipulation and to address any potential cases of competition manipulation in Canada.
Understanding Competition Manipulation
Competition manipulation refers to an intentional arrangement, act, or omission aimed at improperly influencing the result or course of a sports competition to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the competition, with the goal of securing a benefit, usually financial or sporting, for oneself or others. This can occur when sports participants bet on their own sport or share inside information for the purpose of betting on sports. Competition manipulation is strictly prohibited under the COC Code of Ethics, which applies to all COC participants, including athletes, employees, contractors, volunteers, board members, and committee members.
Rules and Regulations
COC participants must abide by the rules contained in the Olympic Movement Code and the COC Code of Ethics. The rules on competition manipulation can be summarized as follows: never bet on your own sport, never manipulate a competition, never share inside information, and report anything suspicious. COC participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the complete set of rules, which can be found in Section 3.4 of the COC Code of Ethics or Article 2 of the Olympic Movement Code. It is essential for COC participants to understand these rules and regulations to ensure the integrity of sports competitions and to prevent competition manipulation.
Reporting Competition Manipulation
Reports of suspected, attempted, or actual competition manipulation can be made to the International Olympic Committee, Sport Integrity Canada, or the COC directly. At the international level, reports should be made to the International Olympic Committee using the IOC Integrity and Compliance Reporting Hotline. At the national level, reports can be made to Sport Integrity Canada, and within the COC, reports can be made to any member of the COC Senior Leadership Team or via the COC’s Whistleblowing Form. It is crucial for COC participants to report any suspicious activity to ensure the integrity of sports competitions and to prevent competition manipulation.
Consequences of Competition Manipulation
Violations of the COC Code of Ethics and Olympic Movement Code may lead to serious consequences, including disciplinary action and sanctions by the IOC, International Federation, COC, and the Participant’s National Sport Organization. It is essential for COC participants to understand the consequences of competition manipulation and to abide by the rules and regulations to ensure the integrity of sports competitions. The COC takes competition manipulation seriously and will take all necessary measures to prevent and address any instances of competition manipulation.
Conclusion and Resources
Every COC participant and athlete plays a role in protecting the integrity of Team Canada and the Olympic Games. The COC provides resources and support to help participants understand the rules and regulations surrounding competition manipulation. The IOC website on the Prevention of Competition Manipulation and the Sport Integrity Canada website on Competition Manipulation are valuable resources for COC participants to learn more about competition manipulation and how to prevent it. By working together, the COC and its participants can ensure the integrity of sports competitions and uphold the core values of fair play and integrity in the Olympic Movement.