Betting summit to be held between betting representatives and LOCOG – London Olympics 2012
A betting summit is scheduled to be held this Tuesday between the representatives of the betting industry as well as the officials of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.
The purpose of the summit is to discuss and find ways that would help deal with the illegal betting that is expected to take place once the London 2012 Olympic Games start from July 27.
The venue of the meet is set to be Westminster where various notable officials of the LOCOG are going to be present.
Among the LOCOG officials, Paquerette Girard Zappelli, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) head of ethics as well as Kendrah Potts, the lead lawyer on betting and doping at the LOCOG will also be present.
On the other side, Nick Tofiluk who is the head of regulation at the Gambling Commission will also make an appearance.
Mike O’Kane, who is the director at Ladbrokes Business and will be chairing the summit which will be the first of its kind, expressed himself on the matter in the following manner, “When sport is corrupted, and betting used to profit from that corruption,
it impacts sport and the legitimate betting industry alike. Punters always want to know they're getting a fair bet on their chosen sport. Although the real risk lies within illegal betting markets, the regulated industry still has a role to play in assisting
the authorities to understand and combat this problem.”
According to the rules set down for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the delegations that will become a part of the event are not allowed to be involved with betting. The ban on betting activities applies to all coaches, officials as well as referees of the
other countries that will be represented in the Olympic Games.
Despite the fact that the London 2012 Games will start from July 27, the ban on the participating delegations will be applicable from July 16, as it will be then that the Olympic Village will open itself to the delegations.
Invitation was sent out to the sports minister of the country, Hugh Robertson, but he will not be able to make it.
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