The declaration, unanimously adopted during the event, outlines a shared, action-oriented commitment to reinforce good governance, prevent competition manipulation, enhance officiating integrity through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and advance safeguarding in sport.

A collective stand for integrity

In her opening address, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a double Olympic champion, underlined how the credibility of sport depends on shared responsibility and trust.

“We want athletes and the public to believe in us – we want them to understand that we are doing the right thing, and we are protecting what we believe in for generations to come,” she said. “It can only be done if we are that spider web – if we link together and we work together as one in a way that is collaborative and uses all of our strengths.”

The forum brought together leaders from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Council of Europe, and INTERPOL, alongside governments and international federations, to reinforce cooperation against corruption and to strengthen athlete protection.

Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, Chief of the UNODC’s Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, praised the initiative, stating:

“Strengthening the integrity of sport helps ensure its role as a key driver of positive social and economic development. The global partnership between the UNODC and the IOC has been a driving force, and we look forward to enhancing this collaboration.”

ISU leadership on safeguarding and technology

Representing the skating community, ISU President Jae Youl Kim and Director General Colin Smith took the stage at the Forum to highlight the federation’s leadership in advancing integrity, athlete welfare, and technology-driven transparency.

President Kim participated in the panel “Safeguarding in Sport – Specificities, Intersections, and Contextualised Approaches for Integrity”, emphasising the ISU’s integrated approach to athlete well-being as one of the five pillars of ISU Vision 2030, its strategic roadmap for modernisation.

“Safeguarding is not a one-time measure – it’s a culture we build together,” said Kim. “At the ISU, we take safeguarding seriously. Through our strategic Vision 2030, we are committed to keeping our sports clean from doping, fair in competition, and safe for our athletes. Earning their trust requires more than policies – it requires real actions and genuine care that demonstrate our commitment every day.”

Harnessing technology for transparency

In a separate session on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Technical Officials’ Integrity”, Colin Smith explored how emerging technologies are helping enhance accuracy and fairness in officiating.

“The data we get from this tool is not just for technical analysis,” he explained. “It helps us bring the sport to life – gamification of graphics, speeds of spins, heights of jumps, distances travelled, and so on. These pieces of information help us tell the story to fans at home in a more dynamic and accessible way.”

The ISU’s participation at the Forum underscored its growing influence in shaping international policy discussions on integrity and technology in sport. As the oldest winter sport federation and a key contributor to the Olympic Movement, the ISU’s approach aligns closely with the IOC’s broader efforts to modernise governance and strengthen ethical standards across all disciplines.

Towards a stronger, safer sporting future

With the Universal Declaration on Sports Integrity now adopted, the IOC and its partners have set a clear path for collaborative action. The Declaration represents not only a renewed commitment to protecting athletes and competitions, but also a shared recognition that integrity is essential to sport’s social and economic value.

For organisations like the ISU, which continue to innovate in both safeguarding and digital transparency, the Forum reaffirmed that protecting integrity is not just a responsibility — it’s central to ensuring that sport remains a trusted and transformative force for generations to come.

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© IOC/Christophe Moratal