Alkass Digital
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) extended their memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the cooperation between the two organizations in fighting corruption and crime in sport.
The new agreement has a particular focus on preventing youth crime, violence and drug use through sport and was signed today at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, by IOC President Thomas Bach and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.
"The IOC is a values-based organization. Therefore, we have the duty to uphold good governance and integrity," said the IOC President. "This MoU will greatly strengthen the cooperation between the IOC and UNODC."
"We will cooperate in a number of different areas, specifically on capacity-building, training programs and awareness-raising events that aim to tackle corruption and crime in sport. In addition, we collaborate in the prevention of the manipulation of sports competitions. Through the extended cooperation, we will also use sport as a tool to prevent youth crime, violence and drug use," he added.
UNODC Executive Director Waly said: "2021 is a landmark year for global anti-corruption action, and international mobilization to protect the integrity of sport is stronger than ever. Under the new agreement, UNODC and the IOC will build on this momentum to help countries safeguard sport, but also leverage its power to strengthen youth resilience against crime, and shape more inclusive and just societies."
The IOC and UNODC have a long-standing relationship. The two organizations regularly review the effectiveness of their joint initiatives and develop them further to address new trends and needs.