‘In governance we trust’ – sport in crisis
Global sports such as athletics, tennis and football, and domestic sports and codes such as AFL, NRL and Racing are all under an increased spotlight through issues of integrity and ethics. The problems are far reaching, and the impacts significant.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame in conjunction with Victoria University are holding the second Integrity in Sport Forum in Melbourne on Monday 9th May. The Forum will tackle the issues of integrity and governance with a stellar panel of national and international experts – led by Australia’s most experienced sports administrator Kevan Gosper AO.
Gosper, a member of the 2015 FIFA Independent Reform Committee and the IAAF Ethics Commission, will be joined by Jaimie Fuller, global chairman of SKINS International and crusader on issues of sports integrity, governance and ethics; Australian Sports commission chairman John Wylie AM; and investigative reporter and Walkley award winner Caro Meldrum-Hanna who lifted the lid on serious breaches of integrity and governance in the greyhound racing industry.
The forum will bring together over 200 of Australia’s sports and community leaders including presidents, chairs, and CEO’s, local government and regional sports assemblies, integrity officers, elite and club athletes, facility owners and operators.
With sport in crisis globally, Australia is not immune to the issues.
How does this transpire? How can it be solved? Where does the responsibility lie? What role do government, administrators, coaches and participants have in ensuring good governance at all levels of sport?
And how is it affecting sports participation at the grassroots level in Australia?
These are just some of the questions that will be asked and answered by those at the coalface of these issues, according to Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chairman John Bertrand AM.
“This forum is an opportunity to bring forward the issues surrounding integrity in sport, and to seek informed debate amongst sports leaders,” Bertrand said.
“We have seen bribery, corruption and cheating exposed at the highest echelon of global sports. It has dominated recent headlines.”
“There is currently a fractured debate going on around the country on matters of governance and integrity and this forum will offer an opportunity for a consolidated discussion which is vital to the future of sport in Australia, with the major sporting federations and codes involved,” Bertrand said.
“This discussion is being driven by two independent organisations and thought leaders in Victoria University and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The initiatives and outcomes it generates will help overcome the disjointed and fragmented approach to integrity in sport in Australia.”
Victoria University College of Sport and Exercise Science Dean Professor Hans Westerbeek said the forum aimed to take the debate beyond the superficial discussions of ‘something must be done’.
“We are thrilled that Kevan Gosper and Jaimie Fuller have agreed to provide their significant international insights into the issues of integrity, governance and ethics,” Professor Westerbeek said.
“And John Wylie and Caro Meldrum-Hanna will provide a strong analysis on the Australian scene, and what can result when governance is left at the doorstep of the offices of Australian sport.”
“The forum is designed to encourage a greater level of informed debate about integrity in sport issues, and encourage participants at all levels of sport to reflect on actions they can take to address integrity issues,” Westerbeek added.
