Ukraine presents key updates in the activities of the National Platform of Sports Integrity

On 22 May, the 10th meeting of the Committee of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (Macolin Convention) took place in a hybrid format. Ukraine was represented at the meeting by Nataliia Radchuk, Secretary of the National Platform of Sports Integrity, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Participants discussed the implementation of the strategic priorities for the development and implementation of the provisions of the Convention for the period 2025-2027, which serve as a guide for the formation of state policies of the States Parties to the Macaulay Convention.

During the meeting, the Committee members adopted a number of decisions prepared by the relevant working groups. In particular, they discussed draft model agreements on information exchange between public authorities and sports organisations, an updated typology of illegal betting operators to restrict access to the national market for unscrupulous entities, approaches to risk assessment, prevention of money laundering through sports betting, and mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the Convention.

As part of the presentation of the National Platforms' reports, Nataliia Radchuk presented the progress of the National Platform of Sports Integrity. In particular, attention was focused on the completion of the technical modernisation of the Platform's official website into an information and communication system that will automate the processing and analysis of reports on possible manipulation of the results of sports competitions.

It was also noted that Ukraine continues to actively promote integrity in sports, increasing the number of events for sports federations, athletes and coaches of national teams. Special attention was paid to the initiative to create a network of integrity officers in sports federations.

Nataliia Radchuk informed participants of the meeting about the current national initiative to build a network of integrity officers in sports federations, which aims to strengthen the capacity of the national sports environment to detect and prevent manipulation in sports.

In terms of legislative initiatives, the participants were informed about the draft law on improving the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on liability for corrupt influence on the results of sports competitions and expanding the powers of law enforcement agencies in investigating such crimes, developed with the participation of the National Platform and which passed the first reading in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

As a reminder: You can report match-fixing or other manifestations of manipulation in sports through the official website of the National Platform of Sports Integrity: https://fairsport.gov.ua/uk