Securing Sport 2013 Conference Begins in Doha

Doha, March 18 (QNA) - Securing Sport 2013 conference, the leading international sport security and integrity conference, kicked off in Doha, Qatar on Monday under the theme of "Advancing the security and integrity of sport to safeguard the future." Ladies, Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests On behalf of HE the Minister of State for Internal Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Than, Director General of Public Security HE Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi opened the conference. The opening session was attended by Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, President of Qatar Football Association HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani in addition to high-level representatives from the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Commission, the Organzation of American States and government organization from different world countries. Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, on behalf of the State of Qatar, welcomed the participants in the Securing Sport 2013 Conference, organized by the International Conference for Sport Security and Integrity (ICSS) hoping that the conference would contribute to maintaining sport integrity. In an inaugural speech Major General Al Khulaifi said "On behalf of the State of Qatar, we welcome you all and we look forward to your valuable contribution to this on-going and strategic initiative to secure and preserve the integrity of sport. This conference is an active demonstration of Qatar s sustained commitment to contribute to the preservation of one of human kind s most valuable endeavours. "Since the inaugural International Sport Security Conference of 2011, which I opened, it has been remarkable to observe the development of the ICSS as an organisation. And this is mirrored by the development from a more intimate security focussed event in 2011 to the room we see today, filled with over 400 sport security and integrity experts a lot of them new, international faces. "From day 1, the Qatar Ministry of the Interior has enjoyed close collaboration with the ICSS echoing and sharing mutual values of respect, an open mind, innovation, creation, passion and proactivity. Like at the ICSS, we, at the Ministry of Interior, champion and promote core principles of integrity, security and safety. Once again, on behalf of the State of Qatar, we welcome you to Securing Sport 2013. With the rich variety of delegates, expertise, sessions, venues, and mixed with classic Qatari hospitality, we hope you will have valuable and fruitful discussions, share knowledge and best practices and also take home with you a favourable and lasting impression of Qatar. Taking place on March 18-19 in Doha, Securing Sport 2013 brings together 400 international experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and best practice in sport, safety, security and integrity. A number of issues will be discussed during the two-day event including; The Power of Sport to Erase Discrimination, Advancing the International Community to Safeguard the Future, Securing Your Media Plan, Are Sport Federations Equipped to Run their Own Match-Fixing Investigations?," "Is Sport Protecting its Elite at the Expense of its Integrity? along with other imported topics relates to security, integrity and youth in sport. A new feature of Securing Sport 2013 is the inclusion of an international Youth Engagement Initiative which involves a workshop program involving students from around the world. A select group of 25 international and local students have been invited as special guests to Securing Sport 2013 to discuss fundamental principles of sport integrity. They will be asked to explore a number of issues including sport ethics, the role of celebrity athletes and role models, the influence of social media in spectator behavior and the effect of video gaming on their enthusiasm. Students will then be asked to nominate a spokesperson to appear on a panel at the end of the conference to present their findings. High-profile speakers and leading figures take part in this year s conference including: Juliette Kayyem, Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard s Kennedy School of Government, Leonard McCarthy, Vice President for Integrity at the World Bank, Denis Oswald, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the International Rowing Federation (FISA), Bill Bock, General Counsel, US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Sylvia Schenk, Senior Advisor for Sport at Transparency International, G?rard Houllier OBE, Head of Global Soccer, Red Bull; and Alexander Atamanenko, CEO, Donbass Arena, Donetsk. A number of regional and international organizations take part as well in the event including 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Supreme Committee; 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Organizing Committee; Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee; Qatar Olympic Committee, the International Cricket Council, the European Professional Football Leagues; the FA Premier League, the German Football Association, USADA, UK Ministry of Sport, the United Nations; the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ICSS is an international, not-for-profit institution that aims to help event organizers to stage safer major sporting events. The Centre's mission is to improve security, safety and integrity in sport by addressing real issues and providing world-leading services, skills, networks and knowledge. The ICSS team brings together some of the world s leading sport security and integrity experts and has access to a worldwide network of specialist practitioners, offering expertise in every aspect of sport security and integrity. The ICSS is based in Doha, Qatar, as an emerging centre for global sporting events including the 2006 Asian Games, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 the 2011 Pan Arab Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (QNA).