Olympic and other major sporting events are a huge undertaking, often requiring significant public investment and impacting local communities’ economy, environment and social conditions. Reporting on sustainability, according to the Global Reporting Initiative, should cover topics and indicators that reflect an organization’s significant impact on these areas. With major sporting events, many of these aspects –the construction of new facilities and infrastructure being a good example- are exposed to bribery, embezzlement and other corruption risks. An assessment of corruption risks in relation to all areas is part of reporting.

From 12 to 23 February the Olympic flame will burn over Vancouver, marking the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and setting a hopeful milestone in how major sporting events are staged. For the first time transparency, sustainability and accountability have been addressed and documented in all phases of the staging of the games from the initial plans to build new stadia to the management structures required to manage an event of this magnitude.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) began to take sustainability seriously about a decade ago. Turin 2006 and Beijing 2008 focused on environmental issues but dedicated much less effort to governance and ethics. However, to date, the IOC has failed to address head-on the corruption risks inherent in Olympic events.

Commitments to governance and ethics at Vancouver 2010 are welcome developments. Whether the organisers deliver on their sustainability targets remains to be seen, but the fact that they are transparent and welcome outside monitoring is a significant improvement, yet much work remains to be done. Where the Vancouver approach falls short is in its lack of a comprehensive corruption risk assessment in all areas.

The Olympic Charter’s first principle explains Olympiasm as “a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” For those trying to stage an Olympics, living up to these values poses significant sustainability challenges.

Sustainability is not possible if good governance is not addressed in spirit and in practice. Future Olympic bidders should build in to their bids and management concrete processes that address corruption risks in all aspects of the staging of major sporting events.

What sets Vancouver apart from previous Olympic bidders is a commitment to sustainability that goes beyond an environmental impact study and a reiteration of IOC support for the United Nation’s Agenda 21 goals. Vancouver 2010 has developed a sustainability reporting mechanism that gives weight to governance and ethics as well as setting quantifiable targets for carbon emissions, waste management, social and environment impacts. Three sustainability reports have already been published, to be followed by another two set to include assessments by external auditors.

One good example is the 2007-2008 Vancouver Sustainability Report, which includes “accountability” as one of six key areas with four subsections on: governance, sustainability management and reporting, engagement and input from partners and stakeholders, and ethical business practices. The reports follow the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Framework, modified to reflect the nature of a major sporting event.

Vancouver 2010 has raised the bar in relation to past and future Olympics as well as for the IOC, but it still does not go high enough. The field of sport and sport organisers must acquire a greater understanding of the risks and responsibilities associated with major sporting events, particularly in relation to sustainability and countering corruption.

In the run-up to the summer Olympics London 2012, one sustainability report has been published and three more are planned. The first report details governance issues and accountability alongside more obvious environmental impacts but is still not a full corruption risk assessment.

They should dedicate equal efforts to ensure that Russia’s first Winter Olympics is not a step backwards to a more opaque Olympic era. Not all the signs are good. Construction projects have reportedly already caused battles for lucrative posts and displaced local residents.Sochi and London should build on the Vancouver experience. In the past, much has been said but little done to support sustainability reporting that embraced governance and transparency. This may now be changing. Transparency International (TI) looks forward to sustainability reports from Vancouver which include the kind of anti-corruption risk assessments worthy of a medal.

TI’s work to counter corruption in sport covers all areas from match-fixing to illegal kickbacks in construction. The following tools and research can go a long way towards helping sport professionals who want to keep corrupt practices out of their games.

Corruption in Sport: Building Integrity and Preventing Abuses - an assessment of that outlines an approach to fighting corruption.

Integrity Pacts

Business Principles for Countering Bribery

Preventing Corruption on Construction Projects – a programme led by Transparency International UK with tools that are applicable to major sporting events, including London 2012.

Transparency International UK has led TI’s work on countering corruption in construction and has developed anti-corruption approaches and tools applicable to major sporting events, including London 2012.

The Global Reporting Initiative annual Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency will be held in Amsterdam from 26-28 May 2010.

The 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference will take place this year in Thailand 10-13 November, 2010.

Contact:
Sylvia Schenk,
Special Advisor on Sport and Chair,
Transparency Deutschland
Tel: +49-30-549898-0
office@transparency.de