The Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS) has welcomed Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO) as its first Sport Associate Member since the launch of its updated statutes.
As the highest sport authority in the country, CSO is a semi-governmental non-profit organization established in 1969. Its main objectives are, among others, the development of sports outside schools, the coordination of sport life in the country, the cultivation of the Olympic ideas, and the promotion of Cyprus sports on the international sport scene.
The organisation is also the coordinator of the Cypriot National Platform against manipulations of sports competitions.
Associate membership with GLMS will support the intensive work undertaken by CSO over the last decade to fight manipulations of sports competitions in Cyprus. The body has already collaborated with GLMS through related projects and is now looking to benefit directly from the various education, prevention and operation services that GLMS has to offer, including collaboration with other lotteries.
GLMS President Ludovico Calvi stated: “We are delighted to welcome CSO as our first Sport Associate Member of GLMS since the launch of our updated statutes. Having members such as CSO on board means enhancing the effectiveness of GLMS engagement against the phenomenon of sports competition manipulations, which since the pandemic outbreak has seen a spike in cases and a window of opportunities for criminal organizations and for fraudsters seeking to exploit weaknesses and take advantage of this moment of vulnerability of the ecosystem in the new normal.”
Dr Costas Solomou, National Coordinator for issues related to sports manipulations at CSO, added: “Cyprus has worked extremely hard over the last few years to bring a coordinated approach to our fight against sports manipulations, by working with all relevant stakeholders – working with GLMS and its member lotteries is another big step in this direction.
“The consistent and evolving work of GLMS operationally and with regard to education and prevention to protect the integrity of sports and to encourage trans-sectoral exchange is vital. We are very proud to join the growing GLMS associate family and strengthen our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of sports integrity.”