Madrid, Spain – More than 100
officials from various departments of Policia Nacional came together in Madrid
to attend a training symposium on 24th and 25th October, 2023, at the National
Police Complex Madrid, learning key topics for helping them contribute towards the
preservation of sports integrity and to strengthen their fight against
manipulation in sport. The symposium, i.e., the Awareness
Raising Practical Session (ARPS) was part of the IntegriSport 3.0 project and
organized by CSCF Foundation for Sports Integrity, the coordinator and content
experts of the project, along with Policia España, the country partners of the
project, in close cooperation with Ministry of Interior, Spain. This
exceptional gathering brought together an impressive lineup of more than 32 speakers,
uniting experts, visionaries, and key stakeholders from diverse sectors to
tackle the multifaceted challenge of sport manipulation.
Integrisport 3.0 is a project established to
provide theoretical and practical support for law enforcement and judiciaries
in the six program countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Romania, and
Spain, co-financed by the European Union. The inaugural awareness-raising
practical session marked the commencement of this project and the 15th edition
of the successful Integrisport
program, reaching nearly two-thirds of EU countries' law enforcement and
judiciaries in the last 4.5 years.
In addition to the expert speakers from
CSCF, the notable speakers
were Chief Commissioner José Ángel González Morán, Head of the Specialized and
Violent Crime Unit, Commissioner Félix López River, Head of the Central Crimes
against Persons Brigade and Chief Inspector David Calvete Sarasa, Head of the
Central Gaming and Betting Control Service of the National Police and various
other officials from a number of high level organizations including the
National Police, LALIGA, UEFA, Association of Spanish Soccer Players (AFE),
Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Rugby Federation, Spanish Tennis
Federation, members of the State Attorney General's Office and of the
Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Finnish Center for Integrity in Sport
(FINCIS), Slovak Football Association, Malta Police Force and many more. The
event saw participation from a number of distinguished representatives from law
enforcement agencies, eminent judiciary officials, renowned figures from the
world of sports, influential voices from players' unions, leaders from the
betting sector, and pioneers in esports.
The event was a collaborative effort, jointly
hosted by the Gambling Control Service of the National Police, which is part of
the National Center of Police for Integrity in Sports and Betting (CENPIDA) and
co-hosted by CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity, an
organization dedicated to fortifying the integrity of sports as the event's
coordinator and content provider. This collaborative spirit extended further
with substantial support and active presence from esteemed organizations like our
IntegriSport 3.0 partners Play Fair Code, Austria (PFC), United Lotteries for
Integrity in Sport (ULIS), also our supporting
partner
FIFPRO, along with Interpol and Europol, actively participating in the
proceedings.
At its core, this symposium aimed to provide a
blend of theoretical insights and practical guidance to law enforcement
agencies, judiciary bodies, and industry stakeholders. Together, they delved
into the myriad challenges surrounding sport manipulation and crimes within the
world of sports. Another primary objective was to foster national and
international cooperation, recognizing that this global issue demands a united
front. The participants, most of whom were introduced to these key topics for
the first time, provided a very positive feedback, appreciating highly for the
level of content, design and format of the event.
CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity,
the driving force behind this initiative, has long championed the cause of
sports integrity. Their commitment to this noble endeavor recognizes the need
for collective action to effectively combat manipulation within the sports
industry.
CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity 's
Director, Norbert Rubicsek, shared his insights, stating,
"Our dedication to upholding the purity of sports has propelled us to
organize this groundbreaking event. We firmly believe that by fostering
cooperation among all stakeholders, we can forge a resilient framework to
combat sport manipulation and safeguard the values that make sports so special."
During the closing of the 2 day event, Chief
Inspector David Calvete noted: “I want to express my most sincere gratitude
for the opportunity that has been given to the National Police to collaborate
in IntegriSport 3.0 project, committed to fight match fixing across the world.
It is a privilege to be part of it and contribute to its success. The keys to
success are proactivity, the search for creative solutions to the challenges
that arise, and effective collaboration between all participants. I am sure that
this project will continue to grow and achieve great things, and we, at
National Police, want to be part of that progress.” He further added by
saying "I would also like to highlight the dedication and
professionalism of all team members of CSCF. Their commitment and hard work
have been inspiring and have ensured that the days have been celebrated with
excellence."
The 2 day symposium in Madrid marks a
transformative stride in the ongoing quest to safeguard the integrity of sports
in Spain. With experts and stakeholder uniting together to strengthen the fight
against sports manipulation, there is renewed hope for a future where sports
remain a beacon of fair play and honest competition, inspiring generations to
come.
For
media inquiries, please contact: admin@cscfsport.com
