The UIA joins Sport Integrity Global Alliance - SIGA

UIA President, Jean-Jacques Uettwiller & Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA coordinator and CEO of ICSS EUROPE

On June, 14, 2016, the UIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICSS (International Center for Sport Security), pledging its support for the Sport Integrity Global Alliance as part of a wider commitment by the international body representing lawyers worldwide to help drive forward governance reforms in sport.

The UIA has joined over 60 high-profile international organisations, government bodies and NGOs as part of the global multi-stakeholder coalition dedicated to working collectively to tackle corruption in sport. By using best practice standards and creative global solutions, SIGA aims to effectively tackle the increasingly complex and sophisticated global threats facing the industry.

Based on the Declaration of Core Principles on Sport Integrity that was formally adopted at a meeting of SIGA members in Madrid earlier this year, the independent and neutral body is currently utilising its combined expertise to strengthen industry standards in three areas: Financial Integrity, Good Governance, and Sports Betting Integrity. 

These standards and best practices are being developed with the goal of widespread adoption across the sport sector, followed by effective monitoring and enforcement.

Jean-Jacques Uettwiller, President, Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), said:

“Sport industry has for several years now not been exempt from scandals that have tainted core athletic values. Reinstituting ethics in the sport on both amateur and professional levels is consequently a major goal for our organizations. The ICSS’s role in this sense is paramount, and the UIA is proud to associate itself with its missions.

Lawyers have a major role to play in this mission: deep-rooted reform is needed in the sport to reinstate good governance, transparency and financial integrity as top priorities, thus restoring the sport’s full credibility. We are excited to join this effort, and today’s signed partnership will allow us to put our legal expertise at the service of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA)”.

Xavier Favre-Bulle, President of the Sports Law Commission, Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), said:

“The UIA Sports Law Commission is very pleased that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the International Centre for Sport Security Europe (ICSS Europe) and the UIA. This reflects joint efforts that Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of ICSS Europe, and the Bureau of the UIA Sports Law Commission have deployed to establish mutual cooperation in connection with the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). This was particularly discussed at a recent sports law seminar organised by the UIA Sports Law Commission in Miami with the support of ICSS Europe. The protection of integrity in sports was a major seminar topic, and all participants realised the work that still has to be done in this field”.

Dr Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA coordinator and CEO of ICSS EUROPE, said:

“As sport faces a defining moment in its history, it is vital we come together to drive forward the deep reforms needed so that it can emerge from this unprecedented crisis. We are delighted that the Union Internationale des Avocats is lending its significant expertise and legal weight to support the fight against corruption in sport and we look forward to working closely with this esteemed organisation as part of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance. From its beginnings in 2015 as a vision for a much-needed solution to combat the threats currently facing the industry, SIGA now commands over 60 international organisations ready to stand up and fight for reforms in the areas of integrity and governance across the sports industry. The endorsement by the UIA is another important step forward for SIGA as it continues to grow and bring on new members across a spectrum of stakeholders from the legal, financial, government, corporate and sport sectors.”

To access the full list of supporters and founding documents for SIGA, please visit www.siga-sport.com