4 week Online Certificate program
Sports Ethics & Integrity for Sport Stakeholders: Emerging Issues and Response
Course Introduction
Led by international experts in the field of sport ethics and integrity from across 5 continents, this professional development course addresses emerging integrity issues. Aiming to enhance sport stakeholder awareness and an increased ability in identifying integrity issues, the course supports familiarity of evolving global frameworks, mechanisms, available tools, legislation and best practices to improve capacity and efficiency for preventative action, investigations, and respons. The course Sport Ethics & Integrity for Sport Stakeholders: Emerging Issues and Response is a four-week professional development (every Monday two hours online) offered by the Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland, Zurich.
Course Content
The internationalisation and commercialisation of sport and its growing economic, political, and
social significance represents incentives for unscrupulous actions. Further, the abuse of authority,
inefficient national legislation, limited resources, and unchecked governance structures contribute
to persistent worldwide sports integrity issues including corruption, safeguarding, and human
rights abuses. To address this gap the discipline of sport ethics & integrity emerged, developing professionals with improved knowledge and new, adapted skill sets to support decision making and the
evolution of ethical, safer, more accessible and inclusive sport.
Although some public entities and sport integrity units are continuing their work playing pivotal roles in addressing corruption and unethical practices while improving good governance, some sport institutions possess considerable autonomy is regulating sport, and failures in handling integrity issues with diligence and care has resulted in both significant athlete harm and the ongoing permeation of threats.
Participants of this course will become familiarised with the roles, responsibilities and relationships of interconnected stakeholders and improve both their understanding and practical application of ethical reasoning alongside legal and governance principles to better critically assess, evaluate and evolve the causes, consequences and implications of various legislation, policies and practises that impact the evolution of sport integrity
Participants
This course is for governmental representatives, national sport organisations, law enforcement professionals, public authorities, NGOs, investigators, judicial authorities, prosecutors, journalists, analysts, sport governing bodies (SGBs), sports integrity managers, sport policy professionals, academics, athlete advocacy groups, and any sport stakeholders or practitioners seeking to improve their awareness and capacity in addressing sport integrity issues.
A Pragmatic Approach
Participants will be introduced to the Sport Ethics & Integrity professionals’ comprehensive, interdisciplinary 360° approach which supports stakeholders to understand the important interconnection between integrity issues and global sport governance frameworks, public authorities, sport business, compliance, risk and the law. Unique to Sport Ethics & Integrity, this approach also considers the potential interplay, awareness and importance of bioethics, health, gender, human rights and beyond to support better informed response and policy. Sessions are developed to equip participants with improved awareness of each unique issue including: its emergence, key concepts, and current gaps in legislation, governance, policy and programme, preparing participants with increased confidence to approach issues in their organisation by developing their skills to evaluate and evolve existing regulations and practise. Participants will be introduced to the tools, frameworks and resources available which support prevention and response. Each session finishes with a critical look into current global best practices. Participants will become familiar with the role and benefit of sport ethicists and the profession, become familiarised in understanding the distinct roles of sport lawyers, law enforcement, public officials, sport integrity professionals and the need and benefit for wider cooperation amongst stakeholders in this fast-evolving field. Finally, participants will acquire access to an international network of sport ethics & integrity professionals from over 50 nations to provide ongoing assistance in their ethical evolution through future collaboration and support.
WEEK 1: ONE HOUR EACH
Introduction to Sport Ethics & Integrity
GARETH PARRY
The first half of session one establishes the interconnection between integrity issues and sport governance, sport business, human rights and the law, preparing participants to recognise the relevance and importance of the sport ethicists’ interdisciplinary approach which supports the improved understanding and analysis of the root of integrity issues, their scale and scope, as well as the risks, roles, relationships and actors involved. Participants will be introduced to the application of an ethical approach to support their ability to critically analyse and assess people, policy and practice in an effort to facilitate an integration of the leading tools, frameworks and resources as well as their growth towards best practice.
Human Trafficking in Sport: Prevention & Response
KADIJA RICHARDS
The movement of athletes between countries is considered normal in sport, making the identification of athlete trafficking difficult and sometimes contentious. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons…for the purpose of exploitation” by various means. In this module, by analysing the means of trafficking, and incorporating the elements of trafficking as outlined in the UNODC Trafficking in Persons Protocol, participants will be equipped to critically examine the often common movement practices in sport through an ethical lens, while increasing their understanding of the factors that make athletes susceptible to trafficking and the conditions under which athlete trafficking may be taking place. Through an assessment of cases, global best practice, and an analysis into legal and regulatory frameworks, this session familarises participants with the current challenges that national sports organisations (NSOs) and sport governing bodies (SGBs) face, while supporting an improved capacity in prevention, identification and response. This course aims to help identify and discuss the overt and covert means of trafficking in and through sport, the regulatory gaps in protection that may exist, and the level of responsibility of governments, international sports bodies and other sport stakeholders.
WEEK 2: TWO HOURS
Sustainability, Integrity & The Future of Sports: Implications, Barriers and Solutions.
HANNAH CAMPBELL-PEGG OLY
Sustainability education, awareness and strategy is now a necessity for the future of sport. Sustainability has become a key performance and value indicator for many entities surrounding sport from government to sponsors, and is an emerging issue for all stakeholders as the impact of climate change is altering the way sport is delivered. With increasing requirements for sport stakeholders to improve awareness, education and contributions towards sustainable development and innovation, this module supports participants to: increase their understanding of what sustainability is, and its importance to sport stakeholders; to learn how to assess, implement and measure sustainability strategies; and finally, how to support strategic decision-making that will have a positive impact on communities, economies, the environment and the future of sport. This session introduces participants to examine current challenges and opportunities that national sports organisations (NSOs) and other governing bodies are facing around the world while identifying growth opportunities aligned with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and ESG frameworks as we investigate tools and solutions that have been implemented across a range of sports at a global, national and local level.
WEEK 3: TWO HOURS
Technology Doping & the Risk and Impact of Artificial Intelligence & New Technology on Sport: Implications, Barriers and Solutions.s.
MARWAN HELLAL
The Covid-19 global pandemic has acted as a catalyst for the rapid advancement of new technologies in sport, communication, and broadcasting, with Artificial intelligence (AI) technology becoming more accessible than ever. AI has been integrated into many advantageous aspects of sport such as: in analysing biometrics of individual players, simultaneously optimising team performance, injury prevention and athlete health; it has also been used to improve the experience of fans, where AI can provide real-time recommendations for live coverage on angles, people, and plays, supporting more exciting and immersive viewing. It also can have an active role in enhancing coaching, stadium security, refereeing, and the fight against anti-doping and illegal-betting – but it also comes with potential risks. Security breaches; athlete confidentiality and right to privacy; jurisdictional complexities and legality around the use of AI; and potential threats to inclusion and equality if AI is guided by biassed inputs are some ethical challenges surrounding the usage of AI in sport. In this module, participants will be introduced to the use of AI and machine learning, wearable technology, and emerging doping technologies – while analysing risks, threats and potential impact of these advancements on the integrity, governance and regulation of sport. As the rapid rise of new technologies outpaces the policy processes of most sports organisations, this module informs participants in understanding the ethical concerns of AI innovation, and equips them to prepare for, and respond to the use of AI. Participants will be introduced to emerging EU initiatives surrounding AI uses and applications; and this course will support participants’ capacity surrounding risk assessments and strategic decision-making around new technology to ensure the implementation of AI does not undermine basic rights of athletes, and that it preserves the integrity and equality of sport competitions.
WEEK 4: TWO HOURS
Sex, Power & Corruption: Sextortion Prevention, Safeguarding & Response. Implications, Barriers and Solutions.
WHITNEY BRAGAGNOLO & YANEI LEZAMA
This module analyses a globally underexplored and under regulated safeguarding issue: the topic of sextortion in sport. Sextortion is both an act of sexual misconduct and corruption which occurs when those entrusted with power or authority abuse their positions to exact sexual benefits. Participants will be introduced to the definition of sextortion, and delve into the legal and philosophical concepts and frameworks that underpin the issue, while increasing familiarity with the legal and regulatory frameworks and gaps in protection and response that exist. The module continues with an examination into current global sextortion cases, aiming to increase participants’ awareness of the diverse actors, perpetrators, and risks to illustrate: a) the enablers that allow sextortion to arise and persist within organised sport; b) the current challenges for regulating and addressing this phenomenon; and c) the responsibility of sport stakeholders and governments to address this issue. The final section concludes with recommendations for stakeholders to improve their education, prevention and response efforts, including guiding participants on necessary reporting mechanism considerations to achieve best practice. The content of this module is of crucial relevance for sport organisations aiming to develop and implement better mechanisms to safeguard athletes’ wellbeing and comply with good governance requirements. The content of this module is of crucial relevance for sport organisations aiming to develop or evolve better mechanisms to safeguard athletes’ wellbeing and ensure compliance with good governance requirements. The session concludes with recommendations for stakeholders to improve their education, prevention and capacity to evolve response efforts and move towards best practise.
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Accreditation & Certification
The Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland (ALSS) is an international education institution that offers continuing education, post graduate advanced education courses, workshops, and programmes focusing on advanced studies in Leadership and Management. The ALSS also offers short professional development courses that are not credit-bearing, and do not lead to formal qualifications. All attendees who attend all four presentations for the Sport Ethics & Integrity for Sport Stakeholders: Emerging Issues and Response will be awarded a certificate of successful attendance by the ALSS.
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Graduate Benefits from ALSS
Completing a business leadership program offers numerous benefits to graduates. Firstly, these programs provide comprehensive training in leadership techniques and strategies, enhancing graduates’ skills in decision-making, problem-solving, communication, and team management. This equips them with the necessary tools to excel in leadership roles and drive organizational success.