Representatives from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Commonwealth, the Organisation of Ibero-American States, and the Organisation of French-Speaking Countries are discussing four key issues over the two-day summit, organised by the International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS). 

The agenda will see them tackle themes such as good governance, social-economic development, sporting and financial integrity, as well as youth development and child protection.

The ICSS hope, that by the close of the summit tomorrow, a framework of policies will have been created to deal with problems facing sport.

"The need for action, enhanced cooperation and global leadership in sport is greater than ever and we cannot afford to stand by and do nothing," Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said.

"The time has come for leaders in sport policy to come together and share insight and best practice so that collectively we may confront the very real threats to the integrity of sport."

Two key issues that will be debated are illegal betting and organised crime networks, which comes off the back of a report the ICSS released in May 2014, in conjunction with University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

It claimed 80 per cent of global sport betting is illegal, while organised crime networks were using sport betting to launder $140 billion (£83 billion/€102 billion).

Lord Jonathan Marland, chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, was critical of Governments for not doing enough to combat threats posed to sport ©ICSS





ICSS is dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport and the organisation and also advise on sport and venue safety, with their team made up of specialists from law enforcement, international policy, sport, Government and anti-corruption backgrounds, having worked the likes of the United Nations, UNICEF, INTERPOL, European Commission, the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and UEFA.

In addition Spain's Secretary of State of Sport and the Secretary General of the Ibero-American Council of Sport, Miguel Cardenal, Portugal's Secretary of State of Sport and Youth, Emídio Guerreiro and the chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Lord Jonathan Marland were all present at the event.

Marland predicted the summit could prove to be a starting block, with the unified voice of linguistic regions, who ICSS estimated were representing four billion people, creating power due to its vast numbers.

"We can develop a plan of action not just words which the people of our nations deserve" Marland said, after accusing Governments of standing back and not doing enough to tackle issues.

Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, ICSS Europe chief executive, was another speaker on the opening day of the inaugural Inter-Regional Sports Policy Summit in Lisbon ©ICSS



His view was echoed by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, chief executive of ICSS Europe, who said "We cannot tackle the challenges facing sport in isolation.

"The time has come for global leadership and enhanced international cooperation.

"Governments, international organisations, international bodies, including linguistic blocks, and governing bodies must unite in a concerted and coordinated way against the common threats damaging the core values and sustainability of sport.

"This is a unique opportunity to jointly tackle the critical issues affecting integrity, governance, human rights, youth development and child protection in sport."

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