Universal Declaration on Sports Integrity – Between Declaration and Real Change
On 24 October 2025, the Universal Declaration on Sports Integrity was adopted in Lausanne — a document that, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is meant to mark a new stage in the global protection of integrity in sport.
The Declaration was announced during the 5th International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI), which brought together more than 400 leaders from the world of sport, government representatives, international organisations, law enforcement bodies, and experts in combating corruption and match-fixing. It remains one of the most significant events in the global sports governance calendar, aiming to set strategic directions for the entire sports ecosystem — from international federations and national associations to local clubs.
Four pillars of integrity
The Declaration focuses on four key areas intended to serve as the foundation for a “new era of transparency” in sport:
- Good governance and anti-corruption – including the implementation of codes of ethics, the creation of reporting mechanisms, and the promotion of a culture of transparency within sports organisations.
- Preventing competition manipulation – by strengthening cooperation among sports bodies, law-enforcement agencies, and betting operators, as well as by ratifying key international conventions.
- Integrity in officiating and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – developing technologies that enhance impartiality in decision-making and promoting ethical standards in the training and evaluation of referees.
- Safeguarding and the protection of participants in sport – focusing on the prevention of violence, abuse, and discrimination, while ensuring safe sporting environments at all levels.
The Declaration builds on existing frameworks such as the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance (BUPGG), the IOC Code of Ethics, and the recommendations of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS). It highlights the need for cross-sectoral cooperation and a strengthened culture of accountability in the world of sport.
Right intentions, but still too few specifics
From our perspective, the adoption of the Declaration is an important signal — the sporting world acknowledges that integrity and transparency are now essential to its credibility. It is also a step toward building a common language between sport, public administration, and international organisations — sectors that for years have operated largely in isolation.
However, despite its ambition, the Declaration lacks the mechanisms that would ensure its real effectiveness. There are no clear implementation deadlines, measurable indicators, or designated institutions responsible for monitoring progress. In practice, this means that while the document sounds impressive, its impact depends entirely on the goodwill of individual organisations — and history shows that goodwill alone is rarely enough.
The ISG team notes that this reflects a broader trend of “declarative governance” — the creation of ever more declarations and frameworks that structure discussion, but fail to trigger genuine systemic reform. Without independent oversight mechanisms, mandatory reporting obligations, and external ethical audits, it is difficult to speak of a true strengthening of integrity in sport.
We need courage, not just declarations
Integrity in sport is not a one-time act of signing a document — it is a continuous process requiring courage, consistency, and accountability. It represents an organisational culture where transparency, participation, and responsibility are everyday practices rather than exceptions.
The next step should therefore be the implementation of concrete tools, such as:
- establishing legal frameworks and reporting obligations for publicly funded sports organisations,
- including independent experts, academia, and civil-society organisations in oversight and evaluation processes,
- strengthening the voice of athletes — especially active ones — within decision-making structures,
- and expanding ethics and governance education programmes to build the competencies of future sports leaders.
A sport that cannot hold itself accountable will inevitably lose public trust — and trust is its most valuable currency.
A new beginning?
The Universal Declaration on Sports Integrity could become a turning point — if its principles are treated not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a real reform process.
Otherwise, it risks becoming yet another well-intentioned document that the sports community will reference for years without tangible outcomes.
