Safeguarding Integrity of Major Sports Events

Focuses on embedding strong integrity systems throughout the full lifecycle of major sports events—from host selection and planning to delivery and post-event legacy. The goal is to identify practical frameworks and lessons that can strengthen public trust, reduce corruption risk, and leave lasting governance improvements through major sports events

CORE THEME

Embedding a high-integrity culture and best practices across every stage of Major Sports Events, including:

• Host selection

• Planning and construction

• Event operations

• Financial oversight

• Post-event legacy and asset transfer

KEY TOPICS

1. Retrospective Analysis (Past Events)

Review of integrity management practices at:

• Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

• Subsequent Summer and Winter Olympics through Paris 2024

• Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Focus areas:

• What worked

• Where failures occurred

• Lessons learned

2. Prospective Analysis (Future Events)

Integrity best practices for upcoming events, including:

• FIFA World Cup 2026 (United States, Canada, Mexico)

• FIFA World Cup 2030 (Morocco, Portugal, Spain + centenary matches in South America)

• FIFA World Cup 2034 (Saudi Arabia)

• LA 2028 Olympic Summer Games

• French Alps 2030 Winter Games

• Brisbane 2032 Olympic Summer Games

3. Track Record Evaluation

Assessment of how effectively major events have:

• Established integrity safeguards

• Implemented robust reporting systems

• Monitored anti-corruption compliance

• Investigated and sanctioned wrongdoing

• Educated stakeholders

• Influenced suppliers and contractors to meet world-class integrity standards

KEY INTEGRITY AREAS FOR DISCUSSION

Governance & Oversight

• Clear criteria for host country/city selection

• Conflict of interest identification and management

• Internal and external oversight of event delivery authorities

Financial Integrity

• Financial controls and audits

• Public reporting and transparency

• Budget oversight and accountability

Procurement & Construction

• Venue construction procurement

• Goods and services contracting

• Anti-corruption safeguards in supply chains

Legacy & Asset Management

• Disposal of assets post-event

• Long-term use of venues

• Avoiding “white elephant” infrastructure

Regulatory & Contractual Enforcement

• Public regulatory frameworks

• Private contractual governance (host city/country contracts)

• Using integrity enforcement as a social legacy of major sports events

STRATEGIC VALUE FOR GSII

This roundtable positions GSII as:

• A leader in mega-event integrity governance

• A convener of international regulators, sports bodies, and legal experts

• A platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned

• A contributor to improved global standards for major sports events