Paris 2024 Olympics: Betting on sport and integrity 

As the IOC invests in technology to maintain the integrity of competitions and prevent manipulation, we explore the sports betting landscape during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Speaking on a panel at the second day of the BIS SiGMA Americas conference were Mr. Felipe Marchetti, representing Sportradar, Tiago Horta Barbosa from Genius Sports, Luiz Gustavo Zonca from Rei do Pitaco, and Mr. Roberto Armelin, Executive Director of ESG Risk Compliance at São Paulo Football Club.

The conversation explored the multifaceted challenges and potential solutions in ensuring the integrity of sports competitions.

Mr. Felipe Marchetti emphasised the paramount importance of transparency and responsibility in their integrity efforts. He affirmed that their comprehensive 4 pillar methodology had uncovered no indications of match manipulation during the Brazilian Championship 2023, citing robust fraud detection systems and collaborative partnerships with sports federations and media outlets.

“When we work with integrity, we have to focus on two main points. The first one is transparency, and the second one is responsibility. responsibility both with the professionals, athletes, coaches, managers, as well as with the industry.”

As the discussion unfolded, the focus shifted to the critical role of education in fostering integrity awareness among athletes and stakeholders. Tiago, representing Genius Sports, underscored the necessity of a holistic approach, highlighting initiatives such as São Paulo Football Club’s integrity and the Tricolor program as examples of proactive education and awareness campaigns within sports organisations.

The conversation expanded to encompass the broader sports landscape, acknowledging the prevalence of integrity issues beyond football. Tennis emerged as a notable example of proactive integrity measures, with the establishment of the International Tennis Integrity Agency setting a standard for other sports to emulate. However, challenges persist, particularly in resource-constrained sports like table tennis, where effective integrity frameworks are still being developed.

The discussion also broached the topic of punishment for integrity breaches, acknowledging the complexities inherent in imposing sanctions. While recognizing the need for deterrent measures, panellists stressed the importance of fair and proportionate enforcement mechanisms, underlining the vital role of education, monitoring, and collaboration in upholding the integrity of Brazilian sports.

“I think that education is the most important element of the treatment of this whole system that we are talking about here. Match fixing is the disease, the irregularity, the infraction of the law, the principles, of the treatment of this whole system that we are talking about here,” commented Mr. Roberto Armelin.

In conclusion, the panellists emphasised the imperative of collective action and ongoing investment in integrity initiatives to safeguard the values of fair play and sportsmanship. Through education, vigilant monitoring, and appropriate sanctions, the sports community can mitigate the risks posed by integrity threats and cultivate a culture of integrity and transparency in Brazilian sports. As the conversation concluded, it became evident that the journey toward integrity in sports is a collaborative endeavour, requiring sustained commitment and cooperation from all stakeholders involved.