Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini (main image left), who has been at the forefront in the fight against corruption in sports, has been honoured by Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) with its first-ever Leaders on Anti-Corruption Award.
Polcini, an Italian magistrate and legal advisor to the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry, is the coordinator for international anti-corruption activities in the ministry. He is internationally recognised as one of the leading experts in the fight against organised crime, corruption, penitentiary law and the prevention of, and fight against money laundering.
“Corruption is a global threat, and sports is a risk sector,” said Polcini.
“It is crucial to combat all forms of corruption in sports through an effective multilateral and multi-shareholder approach.
“The convergence of values, of integrity, transparency, and accountability, will bring about effective results. Considering the danger of organised crime infiltration in sports, we are all called to a greater effort (to eradicate the menace).”
He added that he was honoured to receive the recognition, which he accepted “on behalf of all my collaborators”.
SIGA global chief executive officer, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, paid tribute to Polcini for his illustrious career devoted to justice and the fight against graft.
“As Chair of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, he understood that sports cannot tackle corruption by itself. Polcini was pivotal in putting Anti-Corruption in Sport at the top of the G20’s priority list,” said de Medeiros.
“This was a truly game-changing, historical development. It is therefore only logical to award him with our inaugural Leader on Anti-Corruption Award,” he added.
The Leader on Anti-Corruption Award was launched within the framework of the International Anti-Corruption Week, inaugurated by SIGA this year. It coincides with the United Nation’s International Anti-Corruption Day.
As Chair of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group in 2021, Polcini was instrumental in making anti-corruption in sports one of the G20’s top three priorities.
He has also promoted the adoption of two resolutions on corruption and sports by the United Nation’s Anti-Corruption Conferences of the State Parties.
Polcini is also a delegate to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Group on Bribery, and the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention.
As coordinator for Italy, the European Union and the International Italo-Latin American Organisation on several regional technical assistance programmes for justice and security, Polcini has carried out missions in more than 30 countries.
