EU funding program rewards groundbreaking educational campaign against match fixing
The European Commission gives a green light to co-finance with the European online betting industry and EU Athletes an educational campaign that will help professional sportspeople better understand the risks linked to match fixing.
The EU co-financing (see link) follows the educational campaign developed and initiated originally under the leadership in 2010 of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the European Sports Security Association (ESSA), EU Athletes and joined in 2011 by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA).
The EU funding will co-finance 46% of a total budget of €500,000 for a project that will allow the European online betting industry and EU Athletes to significantly expand their existing campaign by targeting 15,000 young athletes in 13 countries and at least 10 different sports. The campaign is to start from the 1 January 2013 and cover an 18 month period. It will allow an additional number of ex professional players to educate their peers through face to face meetings about the sports rules regarding betting and match fixing.
Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA and co founder of the initiative said: “The EGBA was a pioneer of this project back in 2010 with EU Athletes and as the main private financial partner we are delighted that the Commission’s co-funding is endorsing our work done over those last 2 years.”
Jeff Reymonds, Secretary General of EU Athletes, added: “The financing from the EU and the betting industry will allow the players’ associations to dramatically expand their education programmes all around Europe. Educating young players about the dangers of match fixing is a vital component in protecting sporting integrity and the support of our partners will make all the difference.”
Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the RGA added: “When the RGA and our members first funded the UK Professional Players Federation betting education programme in February 2010, it was a new concept, but one we felt could play a significant role in the fight against potential match fixing. With that experience we were glad to support the EU Athletes bid for funding so that comparable training will be made available across Europe.”
The EU funding will co-finance 46% of a total budget of €500,000 for a project that will allow the European online betting industry and EU Athletes to significantly expand their existing campaign by targeting 15,000 young athletes in 13 countries and at least 10 different sports. The campaign is to start from the 1 January 2013 and cover an 18 month period. It will allow an additional number of ex professional players to educate their peers through face to face meetings about the sports rules regarding betting and match fixing.
Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA and co founder of the initiative said: “The EGBA was a pioneer of this project back in 2010 with EU Athletes and as the main private financial partner we are delighted that the Commission’s co-funding is endorsing our work done over those last 2 years.”
Jeff Reymonds, Secretary General of EU Athletes, added: “The financing from the EU and the betting industry will allow the players’ associations to dramatically expand their education programmes all around Europe. Educating young players about the dangers of match fixing is a vital component in protecting sporting integrity and the support of our partners will make all the difference.”
Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the RGA added: “When the RGA and our members first funded the UK Professional Players Federation betting education programme in February 2010, it was a new concept, but one we felt could play a significant role in the fight against potential match fixing. With that experience we were glad to support the EU Athletes bid for funding so that comparable training will be made available across Europe.”
END
The project will provide face-to-face education to 15,000 European elite level and youth athletes in 13 countries and at least 10 different sports. It has a total budget of €500,000 and will be co-financed by the European Commission, the EGBA, RGA and ESSA with respective contributions of 46%, 41%, 10%, and 3%.
Building upon best practice, the education campaign will be delivered by people the players trust and respect – their national sporting trade unions. The countries and sports targeted are listed below. For a full list of the associations see link:
Building upon best practice, the education campaign will be delivered by people the players trust and respect – their national sporting trade unions. The countries and sports targeted are listed below. For a full list of the associations see link:
- Sweden (Ice Hockey, Basketball)
- France (Handball, Rugby, Cycling, Basketball, Football)
- Italy (Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby; Sky)
- Latvia (different sports)
- Spain (Indoor Football, Handball, Cycling)
- The Netherlands (Rugby, individual athletes, volleyball, Ice skating)
- Germany (Basketball, Handball), Lithuania (Basketball)
- Ireland (Gaelic sports, Rugby)
- England (Football, Cricket, Rugby)
- Slovenia (Ice hockey, Football, Basketball and individual sports)
- Denmark (Handball)
- Greece (Volleyball)
All 27 qualifying player associations in EU Athletes will take part in a big tutor training conference where they will share best practice with leading associations; hear from national regulators, police and sports betting operators; and learn from the mistakes of athletes who got caught up in match fixing.
The education will be supported by athlete friendly key messages on posters, wallet cards, social media and an upgraded internet site that will be accessible from smart phones and tablets. Funding press conferences in each sport and country means the media will boost the impact of the education project.
About EU Athletes
The European Elite Athletes Association is a federation of independent athletes associations from all over Europe with member associations from 15 European countries representing over 25,000 professional athletes. Among the sports represented are basketball, cricket, Gaelic sports, handball, ice hockey, rugby and volleyball. EU Athletes has member associations in for example Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.For more information, please visit http://www.euathletes.info/ or call General Secretary Jeff Reymonds +33 6 60861223
About ESSA
The European Sports Security Association (ESSA) was established in 2005 by the leading online sports book operators in Europe to monitor any irregular betting patterns or possible insider betting from within each sport. To achieve this goal ESSA implemented an early warning system between its members that highlights any suspicious betting activity. The Early Warning System allows ESSA to work with the sports regulators and their disciplinary and legal department, ensuring that when an alert is given the regulator is informed immediately which may prevent the possibility of any game manipulation on a given event. So far, ESSA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, The FA, DFB, ATP, ITF, WTA and has established close relations with the IOC and many other sports regulators. ESSA members include: Betclic; Bet-at-Home; bwinparty; Digibet; Expekt; Goldbet; Interwetten; Ladbrokes; Paddy Power; Sportingbet; StanJames; Stanleybet, Unibet and William Hill and. For more information on ESSA please go to the ESSA website http://www.eu-ssa.org or contact Khalid Ali, Secretary General at +32 2256 7565
About EGBA
The EGBA is an association of leading European gaming and betting operators Bet-at-home.com, BetClic, bwinparty, Digibet, Expekt, Interwetten, and Unibet. EGBA is a Brussels-based non-profit association. It promotes the right of private gaming and betting operators that are regulated and licensed in one Member State to a fair market access throughout the European Union. Online gaming and betting is a fast growing market, but will remain for the next decades a limited part of the overall European gaming market in which the traditional land based offer is expected to grow from € 71.9 Billion GGR in 2010 to € 79 Billion GGR in 2015, thus keeping the lion’s share with 86% of the market. Source: H2 Gambling Capital, September 2011. For further information or comment please contact: Sigrid Ligné: +32 2 554 08 90. www.egba.eu
About the RGA
The RGA is the largest online gambling trade association in the world representing over 30 of the largest licensed and stock market-listed remote gambling operators and software providers (see www.rga.eu.com). The organisation provides the remote gambling industry with a single voice on all issues of importance to regulators, legislators, and key decision makers around the world. For further information, please contact Brian Wright +44 20 7831 2195
The education will be supported by athlete friendly key messages on posters, wallet cards, social media and an upgraded internet site that will be accessible from smart phones and tablets. Funding press conferences in each sport and country means the media will boost the impact of the education project.
About EU Athletes
The European Elite Athletes Association is a federation of independent athletes associations from all over Europe with member associations from 15 European countries representing over 25,000 professional athletes. Among the sports represented are basketball, cricket, Gaelic sports, handball, ice hockey, rugby and volleyball. EU Athletes has member associations in for example Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.For more information, please visit http://www.euathletes.info/ or call General Secretary Jeff Reymonds +33 6 60861223
About ESSA
The European Sports Security Association (ESSA) was established in 2005 by the leading online sports book operators in Europe to monitor any irregular betting patterns or possible insider betting from within each sport. To achieve this goal ESSA implemented an early warning system between its members that highlights any suspicious betting activity. The Early Warning System allows ESSA to work with the sports regulators and their disciplinary and legal department, ensuring that when an alert is given the regulator is informed immediately which may prevent the possibility of any game manipulation on a given event. So far, ESSA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, The FA, DFB, ATP, ITF, WTA and has established close relations with the IOC and many other sports regulators. ESSA members include: Betclic; Bet-at-Home; bwinparty; Digibet; Expekt; Goldbet; Interwetten; Ladbrokes; Paddy Power; Sportingbet; StanJames; Stanleybet, Unibet and William Hill and. For more information on ESSA please go to the ESSA website http://www.eu-ssa.org or contact Khalid Ali, Secretary General at +32 2256 7565
About EGBA
The EGBA is an association of leading European gaming and betting operators Bet-at-home.com, BetClic, bwinparty, Digibet, Expekt, Interwetten, and Unibet. EGBA is a Brussels-based non-profit association. It promotes the right of private gaming and betting operators that are regulated and licensed in one Member State to a fair market access throughout the European Union. Online gaming and betting is a fast growing market, but will remain for the next decades a limited part of the overall European gaming market in which the traditional land based offer is expected to grow from € 71.9 Billion GGR in 2010 to € 79 Billion GGR in 2015, thus keeping the lion’s share with 86% of the market. Source: H2 Gambling Capital, September 2011. For further information or comment please contact: Sigrid Ligné: +32 2 554 08 90. www.egba.eu
About the RGA
The RGA is the largest online gambling trade association in the world representing over 30 of the largest licensed and stock market-listed remote gambling operators and software providers (see www.rga.eu.com). The organisation provides the remote gambling industry with a single voice on all issues of importance to regulators, legislators, and key decision makers around the world. For further information, please contact Brian Wright +44 20 7831 2195
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