IOC and Interpol step up collaboration to tackle match-fixing in Norway

Interpol is stepping up its collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to support national efforts to combat competition manipulation in Norway.

The move, announced following a Partnership Development Meeting (PDM) in Oslo, will enable the two bodies, through scenarios, to test the Scandinavian nation's readiness to confront problems within its borders.

This comes shortly after Interpol suspended its relationship with FIFA following investigations into corruption against world football’s governing body.

Participants at the event today, which included "high-level representatives" from the Norwegian Government, law enforcement agencies, sports betting authorities and sports, responded to allegations of competition manipulation and built a "comprehensive and unified approach" to combatting them.

“This meeting is another tangible result from Olympic Agenda 2020, which is all about protecting the clean athletes from doping, match-fixing, the manipulation of competitions and related corruption,” IOC President Thomas Bach, who was not present as he is currently on a tour of Central Asia, said.

“Together, the IOC and Interpol are developing robust education and awareness programmes that are already having a positive impact in the fight to protect the integrity of sport.

"Interpol’s know-how and educational expertise is crucial in this regard.”

Representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports and various other bodies were in attendance.

The initiative follows the huge criticism the IOC received in Norway last year during Oslo's ill-fated bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Like his predecessor Jacques Rogge, Thomas Bach is prioritising tackling match fixing in sport ©Getty Images

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the IOC and Interpol in January 2014, and as part of the Agenda 2020 reform process, a $20 million (£12 million/€14 million) fund is being used to protect clean athletes, with half earmarked to prevent match-fixing and the rest to be used to support projects offering a new scientific approach to anti-doping.

The two have already widened the scope of previous activities and drafted a strategy for concrete action over the next two years.

As well as organising more PDMs, a series of workshops will be given to National Olympic Committees, as well as an annual seminar with International Federations on the risk of match-fixing, manipulation of competitions and related corruption, while an e-learning platform is also being developed with athletes and their entourages.

“Our common action with the IOC to protect the integrity of sport through PDMs, training and capacity building helps strengthen confidence in fair play by the public and all those who have a stake in keeping sports clean and safe," added Interpol secretary general Jürgen Stock.

“A coordinated prevention strategy to keep sports clean is necessary, and must involve stakeholders on national, regional and international levels.”