Sporting and racing industry experts from across the world will gather in Melbourne today to take part in a joint symposium hosted by Victoria Police and Sport and Recreation Victoria at the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR).
Following on from last year's 'Protecting Sport Through Collaboration' theme, this year's event brings together world leaders in a range of different fields from human rights and anti-doping to illegal betting at community and international levels.
The symposium, to be officially opened by Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions Executive Director Luke Mason and Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther APM, will include presentations from Victoria Police, Vicsport, Sport Integrity Australia and notable guest speakers from Australia and abroad.
It will cover topics such as human rights responsibilities in sport; threats to integrity in sport now and into the future; illegal betting and related financial crime; the role of sport in society; and how anti-doping fits with other sports integrity issues.
Victoria Police's own Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit (SIIU) has experienced success across football (soccer), tennis, racing and more recently, esports investigations since being established in 2013.
The SIIU works with all racing and sporting bodies to enhance knowledge, assist with capacity building and raising awareness of integrity and corruption issues across all sporting codes.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert, Intelligence and Covert Support Command:
"Sport should be something enjoyed by everyone from spectators at local games through to participants and supporters at the highest-level competitions, without being worried that it is linked to criminal activity.
"Today's symposium highlights several issues facing the sporting landscape that could impact people's enjoyment and participation in sport and provides an opportunity for Victoria Police to ensure we provide a coordinated response, incorporating all of our partners at a domestic and international level.
"As the only state with a dedicated sporting integrity unit, Victoria Police remains at the forefront of investigation and disruption of sports corruption.
"With the online space continuing to provide new opportunities for illegal betting activity, particularly in the growing esports arena, it's important that our SIIU continues to be on top of this emerging trend.
"This is evidenced by our recent partnership with the Esports Integrity Commission to better target and deter illegal betting and match-fixing in the emerging esports space."
