GLOBAL EFFORT TO PROTECT WINTER GAMES

GLOBAL EFFORT TO PROTECT WINTER GAMES

Betting markets pose a risk to the integrity of any sporting competition, and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing was no exception.

But tracking betting markets 24/7, all over the world to look for suspicious bets that might indicate competition manipulation (also known as match-fixing) is a daunting task, and can’t be done by one country or organisation alone.

With that in mind, the International Olympic Committee coordinated a global response incorporating algorithms, smart IT platforms, human intelligence and a collaboration with key partners including the Group of Copenhagen.

The Group of Copenhagen is a global network of experts who work together to help detect and prevent competition manipulation.

Australia, as a member of the Group of Copenhagen, played an important role in this collaborative betting integrity initiative for Beijing 2022. This function was co-ordinated by the Sports Betting Integrity Unit, housed in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and supported by Sport Integrity Australia.

For the Beijing Games, Group of Copenhagen members joined forces by monitoring the betting environment in their respective jurisdictions. In particular, the aim of the monitoring was to detect any cases of suspicious odds movements, irregular betting patterns and other indicators of potential competition manipulation relevant to the Games. The initiative ensured there was a mechanism for anything suspicious to be elevated to the Group members and to coordinate a timely response, should the need arise.

Here at home, all the major Wagering Service Providers licenced in Australia offered betting markets on many of the events at Beijing. The government and private sector in Australia collaborated to exchange information in relation to these markets when required.

Beijing 2022 provided an ideal opportunity for Australia to enhance cooperation with our international stakeholders by working together in the monitoring of the Games.

Beijing 2022 provided an ideal opportunity for Australia to enhance cooperation with our international stakeholders by working together in the monitoring of the Games. The collaborative effort was built upon previous initiatives at Pyongchang, Tokyo and the EURO2020 and will be used in upcoming major events in the future. Australia remains committed to strengthening our partnerships with international stakeholders and continually building our capacity in the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions.