Secretary of the National Platform of Sports Integrity Nataliia Radchuk represented Ukraine at the meeting of the Macolin Convention Committee
In Porto, Portugal, a regular meeting of the Council of Europe Convention Committee on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, known as the Macolin Convention (T-MC), took place, with the participation of Nataliia Radchuk, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Secretary of the National Platform of Sports Integrity.
The meeting focused on strategic development and the implementation of the Macolin Convention for 2025-2027, setting a framework for the state policies of the Convention’s member countries.
Special attention was given to expanding the list of Macolin Convention member states. In 2024, Belgium and Lithuania ratified the Convention, increasing the total number of ratifying countries to 11.
Committee members adopted a number of decisions based on T-MC working groups’ documents, including the development of a standard data-sharing agreement between government agencies and sports organizations for use by national platforms combating sports competition manipulation; issues related to promoting responsible betting; improving risk assessment procedures; combating money laundering through sports betting; and monitoring the Convention’s implementation by its participants.
During the meeting, Nataliia Radchuk informed attendees about measures to promote integrity principles within the Ukrainian sports movement. She presented a project to upgrade the website of the National Platform of Sports Integrity into a restricted-access information and communication system, enabling digital handling of reports on potential sports competition manipulation. Additionally, she introduced awareness-raising initiatives by the National Platform to educate athletes, coaches, and the management of national sports federations on anti-manipulation practices.
The Secretary of the National Platform emphasized the need to strengthen accountability for illegal influence on sports competition outcomes and to expand the powers of law enforcement to investigate potential manipulations. In this context, Nataliia Radchuk informed participants about a draft law developed by the National Platform, which has been submitted for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
As a reminder, the National Platform of Sports Integrity website allows you to report match-fixing and other manipulations of sports competitions.