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Mr Rogge wrote exclusively for The Independent and he warned that action needs to be taken. He wants cross governmental cooperation and he feels that it is the only way to address the problem.

Rogge is said to be hosting a very important meeting to discuss illegal betting UK. The Minister of Sport, Hugh Robertson, and his counterparts will be attending the meeting at the ISO headquarters.

A Widespread Problem

Match fixing is particularly a problem that has been addressed recently. Three Pakistan cricket players are due to appear in court this month as they are accused of match fixing. Andy Mangan, a football player has also been banned by the Football Association because he was found to be betting on matches. Rogge has told The Independent that the younger players in particular are vulnerable to betting.

When writing about the problem, Rogge states:

“Illegal betting has yet to be detected at an Olympics Games, but we are not naive. We know the day will eventually come. The potential for corruption is at an all-time high due in part to the advent of betting on the internet and the anonymity, liquidity and sheer volume it encompasses. There are more temptations and pressure on athletes, coaches, officials and others to cheat for betting gains than at any other time in the past. What’s worse, this cancer continues to go largely unregulated around the world.”

It was last year that Rogge really started to try to raise awareness of the problem. He raised his concerns with Commonwealth Ministers in Delhi in 2010. He states that integrity in the sporting world is absolutely paramount. He also goes on to say:

“Fans must be confident that what they see in front of them is fair and true. A unified, international approach can help tackle this threat head on. We need all sports to work with us on this and have clear penalties in place for those that jeopardise true competition in the sport. Educating players must also be a crucial part of the solution. I welcome IOC taking on this issue and we will help by sharing best practice from our approach in this country and offering to lead, or support, any future international initiatives.”

There is no denying that illegal betting does tarnish the reputation of sport. Fans do not want to think that the result of a game is fixed. Sport is about the competition and fairness. Match fixing in particular is a problem and those in the betting world involved in sport are also to blame.