GLMS urges more ratifications of the Macolin Convention
As part of an initiative to fight suspicious betting activity, the GLMS urged more ratifications of the Macolin Convention.
France.- The Council of Europe (COE) hosted a hearing in Strasbourg this week, and the Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS) urged more countries to ratify the Macolin Convention, which fights corruption in sports.
The GLMS General Secretary Giancarlo Sergi was part of the hearing of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the COE on Tuesday. He said that stakeholders must implement the Macolin Convention, offer education and prevention activities.
“Lotteries and GLMS have always shown their strong support to the Convention and look forward to further supporting the CoE with its promotion. Indeed, it’s in the highest interest of the sports movement that they implement the Macolin Convention,” said Sergi.
MP Roland Büchel will release the PACE Report “Time to act: Europe’s political response to fighting the manipulation of sports competitions” soon. GLMS Deputy General Secretary Vagelis Alexandrakis said that he hopes this report sends out a strong message to states across the world for more ratifications.
“As the Convention Follow-Up Committee will convene soon, it is of significance that states ensure their participation in it with full voting rights from the very beginning,” he added.
The report is likely to be adopted in April 2020, before the UEFA Euro 2020 and the Olympics in Tokyo.
The Macolin Convention
Italy, Republic of Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Ukraine are the first States Parties to the Macolin Convention. The body that focuses on the manipulation of sports competitions came into force on September 1.
The COE said that the Macolin Convention is a crucial step in the fight against corruption in sport. It added that it’s possible due to several years of effort and mobilisation by national and international actors.
“The promotion of the importance of the Macolin Convention will continue vigorously within the framework of the Macolin Process in order to attract as many ratifications as possible, in order to broaden and strengthen the effectiveness of the Follow-up Committee,” COE said.
