Director-General/Executive Director
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining this Special Session on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Crime at the 14th UN Crime Congress.
By protecting the integrity of sport, we can harness its power to build forward from the COVID-19 crisis and deliver on the 2030 Agenda.
Through its dedicated Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Crime, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime works with representatives from law enforcement, criminal justice, anti-corruption and sporting bodies from over 130 countries.
Together, we help to shield sport from corruption and crime and ensure a level playing field for all.
I thank the EU, Norway, Russia and the International Olympic Committee for their steadfast support of our Programme, and I am grateful to FIFA for having joined forces with us under a new cooperation agreement last year.
In 2021, sport integrity will feature on the agenda of the first-ever General Assembly Special Session against corruption in June, and at the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption in Sharm El-Sheikh in December.
Our Office will further support Member States with a new Global Report on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption to be launched later this year, and through action to strengthen the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport.
UNODC will also continue to leverage sport as a tool to steer youth away from crime and drug use, and empower women and girls.
My thanks to our partners from the international community and the world of sport for their involvement in today’s event.
In keeping with the Olympic motto, together, we will move faster and reach higher to protect sport from corruption and crime, for stronger, more resilient societies.