The COB (Brazilian Olympic Committee) launched this Wednesday (12) the course “Combating Results Manipulation – Together in Defense of Responsible Gaming”, a mandatory program for all athletes, coaches, managers, doctors and other professionals who are part of the Brazilian delegation in major competitions, such as the Olympic and Pan-American Games.
Available free of charge and online on the COB website, the course addresses what manipulation of results is, its risks and consequences, and teaches how to protect yourself from undue approaches, such as grooming by bettors.
The project was announced during the 2nd Safe Sport Forum, organized by the entity in Rio de Janeiro. The event brought together authorities, managers, athletes and experts to discuss measures to prevent match manipulation.
During one of the panels, the representative of the Compliance sector of the Chilean Olympic Committee, Cristián Mir Díaz, highlighted that individual sports are, in some cases, more vulnerable.
“It’s easier to manipulate one person than 11, that’s why some sports are more sensitive to manipulation. They often don’t have the same funding as football,” he said.
COB’s executive manager of Education and Promotion, Sebastian Pereira, said that the committee’s main strategy is to raise awareness among athletes.
“The main strategy to combat this global threat is information and awareness,” he said.
The national secretary of Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sports, Giovanni Rocco Neto, stated that the issue needs to be treated as public policy.
“We are building the National Policy to Combat Manipulation of Results. It is necessary to punish those who commit this crime and raise awareness among athletes. When an athlete embarks on manipulation, he puts his career at risk”, he said.
Reporter traveled at the invitation of COB
