Ihor Zhdanov inked on behalf of Ukraine the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions

On 21 December 2015, in Strasbourg, France, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Ihor Zhdanov signed on behalf of Ukraine the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. The purpose of this Convention to prevent, detect, punish and discipline the manipulation of sports competitions, as well as enhance the exchange of information and national and international cooperation between the public authorities concerned, and with sports organisations and sports betting operators. Thus, Ukraine became the 22nd participating state of this Organization.

By signing the Convention, Ukraine responded to the call of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland, who during a working visit to Kyiv in March 2015 invited Ukraine to join the Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions, which have become a rampant phenomenon in international sports movement. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Deputy Secretary General of Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni.

The Convention calls on governments to adopt measures, including legislation, notably to prevent conflicts of interest in sports betting operators and sports organisations; to encourage the sports betting regulatory authorities to fight against fraud, if necessary by limiting the supply of sports bets or suspending the taking of bets; fight against illegal sports betting, allowing to close or restrict access to the operators concerned and block financial flows between them and consumers.