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There are UN organizations for many subject areas. There are none for sport. But the UN agency for the fight against drugs and crime, UNODC, paints a harrowing picture in the first global report on the subject of sport and crime.
Sport contributes to international understanding, economic development and health. So much for the classic reading. The other is that sport is a branch of the economy in which crime is thriving. This is shown by a report by the UN organization for the fight against drugs and crime, UNODC, drawn up by almost 200 experts from science and practice. In doing so, it lifts the veil a little that still rests on the less appetizing aspects of sport.
There were already illegal activities related to sport in ancient times. But the dimension of the problem has increased enormously in the past two decades, says Ronan O’Laoire from the UNODC to the South African broadcaster ENCA: “So far, the focus has mainly been on doping. With globalization, professionalization and ever higher sales, however, sport has now become generally attractive for criminals, including organized crime. “
Manipulation, threats, corruption
An example: With illegal sports betting alone, 1.7 trillion dollars are turned over worldwide every year. It is also about rigged games, bribery, coercion and threats. It’s about the corrupt award of international competitions. “And it’s about sexual, physical and psychological abuse of people. There are terrifying cases in many parts of the world, ”says O’Laoire.
It is about sexual, physical and psychological abuse of people.
The business of criminals in sport is made easier because the legislative framework is extremely weak in many places, because whistleblowers who unpack are discouraged or even punished because research journalists are systematically discouraged. And not least because the international sports associations, many of which are based in Switzerland, show little will to tackle the problems decisively.
The UNODC man even speaks of an “omertà” and a pronounced lack of transparency. According to the UN agency, there is no country or sport that is free from criminal activities.