Introduction to anti match fixing and safeguarding in sports

Two-Part Educational Seminar – March 27 & 28, 2025
Organized by EVNIKOS Sports Club within the Basketball-KTN knowledge transfer program

At the end of March 2025, EVNIKOS Sports Club, in collaboration with Basketball-KTNpartners, held a two-day seminar addressing one of sport’s most serious integrity threats — match fixing. The event combined awareness training, open dialogue, and policy education, helping participants understand how to detect and prevent manipulation in sport while promoting ethics and transparency.

Part I – Awareness and Prevention (March 27, 2025)
The first session, “Preventing and Combating Match Fixing in Sport,” provided a concise introduction to the topic. It defined match fixing as any deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of a sporting event for personal or third-party gain — from manipulating scores to engaging in illegal betting. Participants explored key principles of integrity, conflict of interest, and the fine line between ethical and unethical conduct.
The discussion covered the risks and consequences of manipulation: damage to careers, loss of credibility, and decline in public trust. Root causes such as financial pressure, lack of awareness, and criminal influence were analyzed, along with warning signs like unusual betting patterns or suspicious team changes.
Preventive actions highlighted included clear codes of conduct, ethics training, organizational transparency, and secure whistleblowing systems. Participants were introduced to educational tools and online resources that empower stakeholders to recognize and report manipulation.
Protecting sport begins with informed individuals acting with integrity at every level.

Part II – Interactive Learning and Safeguarding (March 28, 2025)
The second day featured an interactive session using video materials and guided discussion to deepen understanding of ethical challenges. Participants shared views on athlete responsibility, betting markets, early detection, and reporting mechanisms, reinforcing the importance of transparency and openness in sport.
A second module focused on safeguarding in sport, highlighting the duty to protect children and vulnerable adults. Key policy principles included zero tolerance for abuse, shared responsibility, mandatory reporting, and the promotion of dignity and respect. Participants learned to identify types of abuse and signs of harm, maintain professional boundaries, and follow proper reporting procedures.
The session concluded with a call for education, vigilance, and cooperation to ensure that every sporting environment remains safe, ethical, and inclusive. Subtitles for the safeguarding section were supported by the European Social Fund, promoting wider accessibility.

Upholding Integrity and Safety in Sport
Across both days, the seminar reinforced a single message:
Integrity is the foundation of sport.
Through this initiative, EVNIKOS Sports Club and the Basketball-KTN networkreaffirmed their commitment to ethical awareness, safeguarding, and fair competition — ensuring that sport continues to inspire trust, respect, and positive values at every level.

By empowering athletes and coaches to act responsibly, Basketball-KTN continues to strengthen the moral fabric of sport — proving that true victory lies in integrity.