Securing Sport

ICSS Flagship Conference - Securing Sport

Securing Sport is an international and multisectoral conference which was conceived to serve as a platform for discussions about the changes, challenges and threats to sport and the opportunities sport can generate in the socio-economic context. Some of the former editions were hosted by Lancaster House in London and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

As an open-ended platform, Securing Sport unites international and national decision-makers, eminent experts and gives a voice to stakeholders across sectors with the aim of inspiring collective action and identifying solutions to enhance the safety, security and integrity of sport.

Previous Securing Sport Conference Editions

Securing Sport 2020 Virtual Edition

Securing Sport 2020 was held in a virtual event format under the theme ‘Building Resilience in an Ever-Changing World’. In a series of digital events – Policy Dialogues, Expert Debates and Youth Interventions hosted by the ICSS initiative Save the Dream – the panels analysed some of the most pressing global challenges facing the world of sport and addressed international approaches and ways to further strengthen multisectoral cooperation to safeguard sport.

Securing Sport Washington D.C. 2018

Under the theme ‘The Business of Protecting the Future of Sport’ the conference was held in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The McCain Institute, bringing together leaders and experts from the world of business, sport, security, technology and civil society to focus on the key issues affecting the opportunities associated with the growth of sports industry.

Securing Sport New York 2015

The 2015 edition was held at the Harold Pratt House in New York City, hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations. Securing Sport 2015 featured panels across three key themes: ‘Corruption in Sport; Emerging Threats; the Social and Economic Impact of Sport’.

Securing Sport London 2014

Taking place at the Lancaster House in London, under the conference theme ‘Sport under Threat: The Game is Ours to Win’, speakers debated a range of topics related to the infiltration of organised crime into sport, the safety and security of major sporting events, match-fixing, good governance as well as child welfare issues in sport.

Securing Sport Doha 2011, 2012 and 2013 Editions

The first three editions of Securing Sport were held in Doha, where the ICSS is headquartered. The initial Securing Sport conferences gathered decision-makers, experts and practitioners in sport from around the globe to discuss key issues pertaining to sport security, safety and integrity.

Previous Editions’ Speakers and Guests

Ernie Allen, Former President and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
John Amaechi, Former NBA Star
Professor Franco B. Ascani, IOC Member of Commission for Culture and Olympic Education
Dr. José Mariano Beltrame, Secretary for Public Safety, Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Larry Buendorf, Chief Security Officer, United States Olympic Committee
Richard Caborn, Former Minister of Sport, HM Government of the United Kingdom
Mark Camillo, Snr Vice President, Strategic Planning, Contemporary Services Corporation
François Carrard, Chairman, 2016 FIFA Reform Committee
Lord Sebastian Coe Chair, London 2012 Olympic Games LOC
Marcos Díaz, Deputy Minister of Sport, Dominican Republic
Moya Dodd, Vice President, Asian Football Confederation
Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Eric Drossart, Senior Consultant, IMG
Jonathan Edwards, Host BBC Commentator and Presenter and Former Olympic and World Athletics Champion
Sir Ronald Flanagan, Chairman, ICC Anti-Corruption and Integrity Unit
Mark B. Fuller, Chairman and CEO, Monitor Group
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Gold Medallist Paralympian
Emídio Guerreiro, Secretary of State of Sport and Youth, Portugal
Richard Haass, President, U.S. Council on Foreign Relations
H.E. Major General Dahlan Al-Hamad, Vice President, International Association of Athletics Federations and President, Qatar Athletics Federation
Mary Harvey, U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy, Former U.S. Women’s National Team Goalkeeper and Special Advisor - Sustainability at United Bid 2026
Michael Hershman, Co-Founder, Transparency International
Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General
David Howman, Director-General, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Khoo Boon Hui, President of INTERPOL
Michael Johnson, Retired American Champion Sprinter, Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist
Danny Jordaan, CEO, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Chris Kelly, Former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer, and Co-Owner of Sacramento Kings
Bernard Lapasset, Chairman, IRB
Wilfried Lemke, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Sport for Development and Peace
Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive Officer, ICC
Jane Lute, Former US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO, European Professional Football Leagues
Angela Melo, Director of the Youth and Social Inclusion Division of UNESCO
Cindy McCain, Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute
Leonard McCarthy, Integrity Vice President, World Bank
Edwin Moses, Board Chair, USADA
Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Legend, President of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation
Ronald K. Noble, Secretary General, INTERPOL
Kathleen O'Toole, Chief Inspector, Garda Siochana Inspectorate
Rick Parry, Chairman, Sports Betting Panel to the UK Government
Liepollo Pheko, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Trade Collective, South Africa
Judge Fausto Pocar, Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
Michael Porter, Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School
Richard Pound, Founder, World Anti-Doping Agency
Renaud Prouveur, CEO, Althing
José Ramos-Horta, Former Head of UN Integrated Peace Building Office and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Sir Dave Richards,Chairman, The Football Association Premier League
Howard Safir, Chairman and CEO, Vigilant Resources International
Alexander Schischlik, Team Leader, Anti-Doping and Sport Programme, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO
Tim Sebastian, Journalist
Monica Seles, Retired Professional Women’s Tennis Champion
Lord John Stevens, Former Commissioner, Metropolitan Police
Rory Steyn, Director, Nicholls, Steyn and Associates
Honey Thaljieh, Former Captain, Palestine Women’s National Football Team
HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar Minister of State for Internal Affairs
Hassan Al-Thawadi, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy
Kevin Underwood, Vice President for Master Planning, AECOM
Ben Veenbrink - UEFA Security & The Stadium Consultancy
G. Michael Verden, Founder and CEO, The Lake Forest Group
* Speakers’ titles indicate the positions held at the time of the event.