Cycle n°2
( January - June 2024)
Focus groups - Qualitative data collection
Athletes - Referees - Coaches - National platforms
FIELD TRIP TO BULGARIA
The second Bulgarian consultation in the context of MotivAction project took place on 02 April 2024 in Sofia.
4️⃣ separate focus groups brought together athletes, coaches, referees and National Platform members - representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Prosecutor's Office,
the General Directorate - National Police, the
National Revenue Agency, as well as international
experts in the fight against manipulation in sport
from the IOC and the University of Gdansk.
All focus groups started with presentations
by Mr. Vagelis Alexandrakis from the IOC Integrity
Unit and Prof. Jacek Potulski from the
Uniwersytet Gdański.
↪ Mr. Alexandrakis presented the work of the
International Olympic Committee – IOC Integrity
Unit and its relation and cross points with the
National Olympic Committees.
↪Professor Potulski presented the results of the first consultation and referred to the recommendations of the Expert committee to Bulgaria.
💡 Following the recommendation by the Expert committee, the Bulgarian project team introduced its Action Plan, as well as a draft Handbook on Safe Whistleblowing on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions to four separate focus groups. Another recommendation of the Expert committee on the project is launching educational campaigns on the topic among sports clubs and federations.
More information on : http://mpes.government.bg/Pages/Press/News/Default.aspx?evntid=6180
FIELD TRIP TO CYPRUS
🇨🇾 On May 16, 2024 the MotivAction Team composed of John Bales and Pim Verschuuren met Cypriot sports stakeholders, during focus groups with sports federations, coaches and referees (handball, volleyball, football, basketball). A consultation of the national platform then took place with the Betting regulatory authority, the ethics committee and the police in charge of sports manipulation.
FOCUS GROUPS IN FRANCE
🇫🇷 the second consultation of the MotivAction project begins with the meeting of the French platform to fight against the manipulation of sports competitions on January 29, 2024.
Its members discussed the results of the first consultation, the implementation of the action plan and possible areas for improvement before the Olympic Games with the coordination of the expert Clémence Cathelain-Collon.
Focus groups were organized on the February 12 (for referees and coaches) and March 18, 2024 (for athletes).
FIELD TRIP TO GREECE
🇬🇷On May 13 and 14, 2024 the MotivAction team composed of John Bales President of the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE), Marios Mantzos, Press Officer at the Greek Volley-ball Player Association, Pim Verschuuren, Researcher at @Rennes 2 University(France), exchanged with Greek athletes, coaches and referees! The disciplines represented were varied: volleyball, basketball, water polo, handball. A meeting continued with EPATHLA HELLAS authorities.
FIELD TRIP TO MOLDOVA
The second leg of the MotivAction project took place in Moldova on March 5th and 6th, encompassing sessions tailored for athletes, coaches, and referees, with the presence and expertise of Corentin Segalen, Chair of GoC, and Massimiliano Michenzi UEFA Integrity Investigation. The primary focus was to underscore the significance of reporting manipulation in sports while also acquainting participants with the existing reporting mechanisms at both international and national levels.
Additionally, discussions with members of the National Platform for Integrity in Sport (PNIS) emphasized the global risks associated with match-fixing and highlighted the necessity of cooperation among all stakeholders. A key point of discussion centered on granting legal status to the PNIS.
A newly launched national reporting mechanism was introduced and comforted by the PNIS members' commitment to integrating the reporting button on their platforms, thereby promoting whistleblowing in sports.
FIELD TRIP TO POLAND
🇵🇱 After France and Moldova, it is Poland's turn to hold its second consultation as part of the MotivAction project (March, 14 and 20, 2024) !
🎯 Several focus groups are organized, with the Polish national platform for fighting the manipulation of sports competitions, referees, coaches and athletes.
The experts were able to interact with the B team of the national handball team in the Olympic Preparation Center.
FIELD TRIP TO PORTUGAL
🇵🇹 The second consultation took place in Portugal on May 21 and 22, 2024, moderated by Marcelo Moriconi, project expert and Lionel BORDES, from the French National Gambling Authority, and Andre carvahlo.
📜 On the agenda, a focus group made up of athletes (athletics, futsal and triathlon) allowed for interesting discussions on the subject of whistleblowing and the new Portuguese legal framework for whistleblowers in sport.
Then, a meeting took place with around ten participants from the anti-corruption unit, the police, the IPDJ, sports federations and gambling operators around the new institutional framework on the manipulation of sports competitions in Portugal.