Prevention of
competition manipulation
What is competition manipulation?
According to the legal definition, competition manipulation or match-fixing is “an intentional arrangement, act or omission aimed at an improper alteration of the result or the course of a sports competition in order to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the sports competition with a view to obtaining an undue benefit for oneself or for others.” (Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, 2014).
Competition manipulation, also known as match-fixing is when the result of a tournament or competition is partially or completely decided in advance and the match is played to ensure the pre-determined outcome. This is against the rules of the game and often the law. The most common reason for match-fixing is to obtain a payoff from gamblers, but teams may also intentionally perform poorly to gain a future advantage, such as a better draft pick or, on paper, a less eminent opponent in a play-off.
Competition manipulation occurs when a participant in a sports competition (for example an athlete, a coach, a judge or referee, etc.) knowingly underperforms or deliberately makes bad or wrong decisions affecting the result or course of a competition, in order to obtain an undue benefit (usually a sporting or financial benefit).
Why MANIPULATE AN EVENT?
Although competition manipulation is widely connected with sports betting, it has to be underlined that manipulating a competition in order to gain a sporting advantage is also a breach of the relevant rules and can lead to sanctions. In such instances, athletes or coaches seek to manipulate a competition as a strategy or tactic; this is commonly called “tanking” or “throwing” a match. This can oftentimes occur in sports competitions where first rounds precede play-off second rounds. In such cases, individuals or teams may seek to manipulate a match to gain a favourable situation in the play-offs/next round.
A well-known example of such an incident took place at the 2012 Olympic Games, when eight badminton players were disqualified from the women’s doubles tournament for intentionally losing matches in the group stage.
What is Sports betting?
Sports betting has existed since ancient times. If properly regulated it is not a problem. Indeed, a well-regulated and controlled sports betting market further engages sports fans and channels interest and enthusiasm towards the sport. Several sports betting entities have financially sponsored sport at all levels and provided support to key social causes. However, if not properly regulated, sports betting can pose a risk of competition manipulation. Prevention of such manipulation is therefore critical. This is the core mission of the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.
Why is sports betting a risk to fair competition?
Sports betting carries several risks. Betting on one’s own sport, or on any sport during a multi-sport event such as the Olympic Games, can lead to a conflict of interest, as athletes, their entourage members or sports officials could take advantage of their inside knowledge of the competition. Similarly, athletes who bet on their sport might be tempted to fully or partly manipulate their competition in order to achieve financial gain. Athletes may also be pressured into not doing their best by entourage members, who might have directly or indirectly bet on the competition and thus be looking for a specific result. Of even more concern is that athletes or their entourage members could become targets for criminals looking for a way to launder money.
How does the IOC protect clean athletes and the OLYMPIC movement?
In 2017, on the recommendation of the International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI), the IOC created the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC). The Unit has established model rules, a robust awareness-raising campaign, and an intelligence system for the entire Olympic Movement.
The OM Unit PMC supports International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), multi-sports event organisers and other sports organisations in their efforts to protect the integrity of sport. It has also entered into partnerships with other stakeholders and supports various initiatives of intergovernmental organisations.
The Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
In the run-up to the Olympic Games London 2012, the IOC and its stakeholders established the Joint Assessment Unit (JAU), a mechanism to gather and assess intelligence surrounding potential violations of sports integrity. The success of this initiative during London 2012 subsequently led to the creation of a Joint Integrity Intelligence Unit (JIIU) prior to every edition of the Olympic Games, which brings together the IOC, the Organising Committee, national authorities, law enforcement bodies and INTERPOL.
In 2014, the IOC went a step further with the launch of the Integrity Betting Intelligence System (IBIS). This system facilitates the smooth and efficient exchange of information and communication between the Olympic Movement and betting entities during the Olympic Games. IBIS has been operational at every edition of the Olympic Games since Sochi 2014. In 2017, it was decided to expand the remit of IBIS from the Olympic Games to other major sport events within the Olympic Movement.
In 2017, during the biannual meeting of the International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI), the decision was taken to create the OM Unit PMC to oversee the implementation of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions by sports organisations, and support stakeholders in its uptake by providing practical resources.
The Unit seeks to:
- Safeguard the integrity of Olympic competitions
- Support Olympic Movement stakeholders with safeguarding the integrity of their competitions throughout the Olympic cycle
- Ensure compliance of the Olympic Movement stakeholders with the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
- In general, support the Olympic Movement stakeholders with the development of activities against competition manipulation
In 2023, a fund of USD 10 million per Olympiad was allocated to continue to support the successful work of the OM Unit PMC.
The work of the OM Unit PMC is based on a three-pillar strategy:
(a) Regulation and Legislation,
(b) Awareness Raising and Capacity Building, and
(c) Intelligence and Investigations.
The three pillars are inter-connected, and each is key to the efforts of the OM Unit PMC to protect clean athletes. The existence and adoption of regulations provide the basis for both awareness-raising activities and investigations and intelligence. Awareness-raising activities are key to ensuring that all sportspersons are aware of the rules in place. Meanwhile, implementation of the rules would be impossible without a comprehensive intelligence and info-sharing system. When suspected rule violations take place, they can be thoroughly investigated, and sanctions can be applied based on the rules in place.
What is the legal framework?
At the international level
At an international legal level, the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (Macolin Convention) is the only specific international convention to address competition manipulation. The Convention is open for signature to all states, both European and non-European. The provisions of the Macolin Convention cover criminal laws, sports betting regulations, sports regulations, awareness-raising, prevention of conflicts of interest, information-sharing, creation of national cooperation frameworks, etc.
The IOC was involved in drafting the Convention, supports the Council of Europe in its implementation, and is closely cooperating with the network of existing national platforms, known as the “Group of Copenhagen”. The Convention entered into force on 1 September 2019. The IOC has an Observer status at the Convention’s Follow-Up Committee, representing the entire Olympic Movement.
The specific legal framework for the sports Movement: The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions is an integral part of the Olympic Charter and the IOC Code of Ethics. It was approved by the IOC Executive Board in December 2015 and aims to provide sports organisations with harmonised regulations to protect competitions from manipulation. All sports organisations, including National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations (IFs) and their respective members at the continental, regional and national levels, as well as IOC-recognised organisations bound by the Olympic Charter, must implement this Code by referencing it or by implementing regulations in line with this Code. A revised version of the Code was approved in September 2022 by the IOC Executive Board following a wide consultation with the Olympic Movement and relevant experts.
Compliance with the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions is mandatory for the whole Olympic Movement. . All IFs recognised by of the Olympic Movement are required to adopt and implement this code, as stipulated in Olympic Charter Rules 25 and 43.
Betting on competitions, manipulating an event, corrupt conduct, disclosing inside information, failing to submit a report, and failing to cooperate are all violations of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, which serves as the primary regulatory tool for the entire Olympic Movement.
The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions is fully aligned with the Macolin Convention.
Relevant rules during the Olympic games
Since 2006, the IOC Code of Ethics has prohibited all accredited persons at the Olympic Games from betting on Olympic events. Furthermore, all participants have an obligation to report any approach or suspicion of manipulation. Specific rules are drafted for each edition of the Olympic Games.
Who should my organisation contact for questions?
The Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
Email: OMUnitPMC@olympic.org