The International Olympic Committee is reportedly seeking to partner with an international betting firm in order to stave off the likelihood that illegal gambling will blight next year’s Beijing Olympics.
The move forms part of a so-called united front called for by IOC
President Jacques Rogge between international sporting federations to
combat the increasingly prevalent global problem of match-fixing. "This
is something we have to address," Rogge said. "The purpose of the IOC
is to have a common approach to that with all international sports
federations and the national Olympic committees. This is what we did in
the fight against doping."
This week, the IOC received a report by Paul Condon, former head of the
International Cricket Council's anti-corruption and security unit,
which advised sports bodies to enforce regulations against illegal
betting and match-fixing, and to monitor enforcement through alliances
with betting companies.
"Bona fide betting companies can give us early warning of abnormal
betting patterns," Rogge said, adding that a deal with a betting firm
may be confirmed before the 2008 Beijing Games.
Condon earlier told reporters that despite match-fixing allegations in
several sports, he did not see the Olympics as a high-risk target. "I
think they (IOC) have made it clear that all participants in the
Beijing Olympics are prohibited from betting on sports," he said.
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