The Azores government believes teaming up with the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) will benefit the Azorean sports movement and wider ecosystem as the autonomous region of Portugal embraces sports integrity.
Its president, Jose Manuel Bolieiro, said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and SIGA opened the door for a fruitful institutional relationship.
“There is a full commitment by the entire government of the Azores in pursuing this memorandum and delivering its fundamental objectives,” said Bolieiro.
“It is our profound belief, and collective motivation, that ushering sports into a new era of enhanced integrity can only bring benefits to all those involved, from athletes to managers and executives, and the Azores as a whole.
“Sport helps to consolidate human character, and that is our aim too.”
The MoU was signed by Bolieiro and SIGA global chief executive officer Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros in Ponta Delgada yesterday.
Among the memorandum’s objectives are to:
- promote sports values
- raise awareness on the social, educational, cultural and economic role of sports.
- enhance integrity, transparency and accountability in sports
- encourage youth empowerment and participation in sports
- foster the adoption of best practises on the development and safeguarding of children and young people in and through sports.
The Azores government also formalised its commitment to support SIGA’s initiatives including the implementation of SIGA’s Universal Standards on Sport Integrity and SIGA’s Independent Rating and Verification System.
Azorean-born de Medeiros described the signing of the MoU as “a very special one for me”.
“This agreement places sports right at the heart of the Azores’ human, social and economic development. By recognising the role of sports and prioritising its integrity, the Government of Azores sets an example that should be followed by other governments,” said de Medeiros.
“Being an Azorean myself, I could not think of a more appropriate place to reaffirm my commitment to continue fighting, for another four years, for clean sport … for sports to be truly worthy of the trust and respect of every citizen, every institution and every government,” he added.
Based in Geneva, SIGA is the world’s largest coalition in sports governance and integrity. Its partners include UEFA, Unesco and the Qatar Stars League.
Twentytwo13 is SIGA’s permanent media partner.
