Bangkok, Thailand, December 6, 2024: The Deputy Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Vinod Kumar Tiwari, said every National Olympic Committee must include a designated officer for the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition (PMC) in their delegations for future OCA games.
This OCA initiative will start at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China next February and continue for every Asian Games after Harbin.
Mr. Tiwari informed representatives of 43 NOCs of the OCA plans during the opening ceremony of the two-day OCA PMC Workshop at the Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok on Friday morning.
“On behalf of the OCA, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this important workshop. Your presence here today reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sports in Asia,” he said.
“We are honored to have participants from the National Olympic Committees, officials from the Law Enforcement Agencies, representatives from Ministries of Interior and various departments combating competition manipulation in your respective countries. Your expertise is crucial as we work together to address these growing threats in our region.”
Mr. Tiwari added: “At the OCA, athletes have always been at the heart of our mission. Our policies prioritize their protection and ensure fair competition. This workshop is a key step in raising awareness and building capacity to tackle manipulation, which endangers both the integrity of sports and the athletes' well-being.
“Starting with the Asian Winter Games in Harbin next year, all participating NOCs will include a designated Officer responsible for the Prevention of Manipulation in Competitions (PMC) in their delegation. This initiative will be mandatory for future Asian games, underscoring our commitment to protecting athletes and ensuring fair play.”
Mr. Tiwari told participants that the PMC workshop would discuss the roles of government, law enforcement, NOCs and stakeholders in preventing, detecting and sanctioning manipulation.
“By strengthening national cooperation mechanisms, we aim to create an environment where athletes can compete confidently, knowing that fairness is upheld,” he said.
In conclusion, the OCA thanked workshop partners Interpol, the IOC and FIBA for their support.
“Your partnership is vital in promoting the integrity of sports and safeguarding athletes,” he said. “Let us work together to ensure integrity and fair play remain at the core of all sports activities.”
The opening ceremony also included introductory speeches from Mr. Humaid Alameemi, Anti-Corruption Coordinator, Interpol, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, and Mr. Evangelos Alexandrakis, Senior Manager, Policy and Institutional Relations, Olympic Movement Unit PMC of the IOC.
