To mark International Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December, the International World Games Association announces that it is adopting the published Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions (OM Code PMC), and is amending its Rules accordingly.
The IWGA is thus proactively supporting the fight to protect sport integrity. The 12th edition of The World Games will take place from 7th to 17th August 2025 in Chengdu, China, with 35 sports on the programme. The host city is expecting 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries.
IWGA Sports Director Sebastian Garvens says of the IWGA’s contribution to maintaining sport integrity: “We have worked very closely with the IOC unit here, and the amended TWG Rules will fully reflect the OM Code PMC. We re-affirm our commitment to the integrity of our competitions by adopting these rules. It is our goal to ensure that all athletes, officials and support staff partaking in The World Games are aware of the Code of Conduct of the Olympic Movement.”
The main rules affected concern the prohibition of betting, manipulation of competitions, sharing of information, and failure to report and cooperate. A disciplinary process has also been put in place. Sebastian Garvens: "IWGA will be working closely with the OM Unit PMC to monitor the Games, and stands ready to act from a disciplinary side if any irregularity is identified. If such a breach is identified during The World Games, there will be disciplinary proceedings which could lead to disciplinary sanctions for the sportspersons involved. In this way, IWGA will ensure credible competitions meeting the ideals of all clean athletes."
Evangelos Alexandrakis, NOC Relations Manager at the OM Unit PMC, said about the cooperation between the IOC entity and the IWGA: “We are delighted to see the strong commitment of IWGA in preventing the manipulation of competitions. It has been a pleasure to work with IWGA on the adaptation of their robust regulations in line with the OM Code PMC, and we look forward to maintaining a close relationship with the IWGA team to help safeguard the integrity of their upcoming competitions.”
Part of the fight to maintain the integrity of sport is in ensuring that suspicious cases do get reported. Sebastian Garvens states: "It is not only a responsibility, but also a moral duty for all of us to report anything that comes to our attention and looks suspicious. It is the right and responsibility of everyone involved in our Games to contribute to the protection of the moral integrity of our athletes and our sport. To ensure this, a secure path exists for reporting any potential breach that comes to the attention of a participant in our Games."
The IWGA Sports Director explains why the IWGA is committed to supporting the OM Unit PMC right now: "Relevant breaches of the Rules not only undermine the credibility of the athlete involved, but also the credibility of the overall sports movement, all athletes and our event. For this reason, we want to publicise once again that we see ourselves as part of the joint forces fighting for sport integrity, and we will be taking the strongest action against any breaches."
More information: IWGA website
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 was held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and 100 countries took part in the Games. The 12th edition of The World Games will be held in Chengdu, CHN, 7-17 August 2025.
