Abbott confirmed speaker for Securing Sport

Doha – Qatar, Mar 05, 2013: The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has announced that John Abbott Chair of the Interpol Integrity in Sport Steering Group will speak at Securing Sport 2013, the leading international sport security and integrity conference.

Taking place on March 18-19 in Doha, Securing Sport 2013 will bring together 400 international experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and best practice in sport, safety, security and integrity under the theme of “Advancing the security and integrity of sport to safeguard the future”.

Mr Abbott has spent 35 years in law enforcement with significant experience in preventing and investigating organised crime internationally. As Chair of the Interpol Integrity in Sport Steering Group, Mr Abbott advises on match fixing and illegal and irregular betting. During Securing Sport 2013, John Abbott will take part in the panel session entitled Should Police Always Lead Sports Investigations?

Joining him on the panel is Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL). Mr Mederios is also a member of the FIFA Committee on Club Football and holds a seat at the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council and the European Union’s Expert Group on Good Governance in Sport.

The panel session – Should Police Always Lead Sports Investigations? – will examine the role of police, sport federations and independent investigators in the context of sport regulations. The session will also address how communication between law enforcement and sport federations can be optimised in order to conduct cost-effective and efficient investigations and to avoid duplication of effort between various investigating parties.

Other high-profile speakers and leading figures already confirmed for this year’s conference include:

• Juliette Kayyem, Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government

• Leonard McCarthy, Vice President for Integrity at the World Bank

• Denis Oswald, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the International Rowing Federation (FISA)

• Bill Bock, General Counsel, US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)

• Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™

• Sylvia Schenk, Senior Advisor for Sport at Transparency International

• Gérard Houllier OBE, Head of Global Soccer, Red Bull

• Alexander Atamanenko, CEO, Donbass Arena, Donetsk

• Lord Stevens, Chairman, ICSS Advisory Board and former Commissioner London’s Metropolitan Police

• Alessandro Del Piero, World Champion 2006, Captain of the Save the Dream elite athletes team

• John Amaechi OBE, Managing Director, Amaechi Performance Systems

Confirmed organisations attending Securing Sport 2013 include:

• 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Supreme Committee

• 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Organising Committee

• Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee

• Qatar Olympic Committee

• International Cricket Council

• European Professional Football Leagues

• The FA Premier League

• German Football Association

• FC Barcelona

• Stade Rennes

• FC Toronto

• United States Anti-Doping Agency

• New York Yankees

• UK Ministry of Sports

• United Nations

• International Association of Chiefs of Police

• Court of Arbitration for Sport

• World Health Organization

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “The ICSS is pleased to be bringing together John Abbott and Emanuel de Medeiros in this critical session examining the role of sport federations and law enforcement agencies in investigations. Their unrivalled expertise and experience from the world of law enforcement and sports administration is critical to understanding integrity in sport.

“I look forward to welcoming organisations from around the world, including leading international governing bodies, mega-event experts and world-class international athletes, for what I am sure will be an important platform for sharing information and exploring best practice in the field of sport, safety, security and integrity.” —- By: Will Shand, Doha-Qatar/Image © interpol.int