The arrival of Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) to South America represents an important step in the development of the sports industry in the region.
So said Arena Hub chief executive officer Ricardo Mazzucca, as SIGA, together with its Brazilian members Pacto pelo Esporte and Arena Hub, announced the creation of SIGA Latin America yesterday.
“The challenges ahead are enormous, and the market transformation is very intense, so it is fundamental that all industry stakeholders join forces to promote its development,” said Mazzucca.
“SIGA’s global experience will contribute to this process by sharing knowledge and best practices.”
Daniela Castro, the executive director of Pacto pelo Esporte, also shared her views regarding the new set-up.
“When we started on this path six years ago, the Brazilian sports scene was challenging and full of uncertainty when it came to sponsorships,” said Castro.
“We fought hard to keep sports on the agenda of companies, and we achieved a great victory by having companies follow through on their commitments to sports, even during the pandemic. But there’s still a lot to be done.”
Castro added that Brazil has “great potential” and that sports institutions were more mature now.
“It is the perfect moment for this union of entities to take place through the synergy of purpose, with a global stakeholder that will contribute immensely to the transformation of sports.”
The institutional expansion into Latin America is to promote the highest integrity and governance standards in sports throughout the region – as part of an ongoing global reform to restore the sector’s reputation, and regain its much-needed credibility.
According to a statement by SIGA, SIGA Latin America is committed to working with all key public and private stakeholders, in a framework of positive dialogue, constructive cooperation, and mutual respect.
SIGA is the world’s largest independent, multi-stakeholder coalition in the field of sports governance and integrity.
This is the third continental structure that SIGA has established over the last three years. The other two are SIGA America, based in Washington, D.C., and SIGA Europe, headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.
Plans for SIGA Asia are in the pipeline.
Pursuing its mission across the whole of Latin America, the new organisation will be headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA global chief executive officer and co-founder, was appointed SIGA Latin America chairman and chief executive officer. Castro will be the chief operating officer, while Mazzucca sits on the board of directors.
“The incorporation of SIGA Latin America is a game-changing moment for our global movement and for sport integrity,” said de Medeiros.
“Almost 700 million people live here, all of them passionate about sports. It is also home to some of the most iconic sports organisations and the best athletes the world has ever known.
“And they have the backing of a leading business community that, as the most dynamic Brazilian sponsors are demonstrating, wants to see sports being governed and operated under the highest integrity standards … free from corruption, financial mismanagement, and unethical behaviour.”
He added this is what SIGA Latin America stands for and is committed to deliver.
“Starting here, right now, in this great sporting nation called Brazil, we count on the support of our members Pacto pelo Esporte, Arena Hub, and the wider Brazilian sporting industry. We count on all, from Chile and Argentina in the south, to Mexico up north, who are passionate about sports and share our vision to join our global movement and be the champions of sport integrity,” he added.
