The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) announced the appointment of three new SIGA Champions as the latest athletes to join the ambassador program, promoting the highest standards of integrity in sports. Brazilian Gilberto Silva, former World Cup champion, Nicola Innocentin, international executive, and Sol Campbell from England, are the soccer stars joining the SIGA team.
This significant addition was made on the sidelines of Sport Integrity Week, during Cityscape Global 2024, raising the group of SIGA Champions to a total of 23 athletes and coaches.
The new SIGA Champions are:
Gilberto Silva (Brazil)
Former World Cup champion with Brazil and Premier League star at Arsenal, Gilberto Silva has focused on youth development and community support, with an emphasis on education and health in his initiatives.
Nicola Innocentin (Italy)
International football executive and founder of Global Football Service, Innocentin promotes athlete health awareness through his work with UNBEATABLES, encouraging education on heart health.
Sol Campbell (England)
Known for his legendary career as a defender for the English national team and clubs like Arsenal, where he won four FA Cups and two Premier League titles, Sol Campbell is an advocate for inclusion and actively fights against racism in sports.
The newly appointed Champions have achieved notable careers in international football and will use their role model status to promote SIGA's reform agenda in the field of sports integrity.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA, welcomed the new Champions with a warm message:
“These exceptional athletes bring, in addition to impressive careers, a deep commitment to integrity in sports. As SIGA Champions, they will use their convictions, experiences, and platforms to demonstrate and promote the broad and beneficial outcomes of ensuring that sports are practiced, governed, and operated with the highest levels of integrity”.
“Through their interventions, actions, and powerful voices, these Champions of integrity will amplify the fundamental principles that are enshrined in SIGA's mission and vision, helping to realize our vision of an inclusive, accessible, sustainable, and successful sport. We are honored to have them in our cause at such a crucial time for integrity in sports”.
Gilberto Silva speaks about his new moment as a SIGA ambassador:
“As a former player and now a dedicated advocate for youth development, I see firsthand how essential integrity is at every step of a young athlete's journey. Sport has the unique power to inspire and transform, and it is our duty to protect it from any form of harm or exploitation”.
“Through SIGA and my own initiatives with Striver, I am committed to creating a fun and safe environment, free from abuse, promoting education and health, ensuring that young people have the opportunity to reach their potential in an environment grounded in respect and integrity”.
Nicola Innocentin states:
“The well-being and safety of athletes are fundamental, especially when it comes to protecting them against health risks like sudden cardiac arrest. With my work at UNBEATABLES, I am dedicated to raising awareness and educating about heart health, ensuring that athletes receive the support they need”.
“As a SIGA Champion, I am committed to bringing health-focused integrity to the forefront, advocating for safe sports environments that prioritize the health of athletes and promote sustainable growth for the future of sports”.
Sol Campbell asserts:
“Football is a universal language, a source of pride, and a global stage for unity. However, in recent years, racism and discrimination have continued to cast a shadow over the sport, compromising the integrity of the game and alienating individuals who deserve equal respect and opportunity. Racism in football is not just an attack on individuals, but a threat to the spirit of respect, unity, and fair play that the sport represents”.
“My commitment in this fight is rooted in my fundamental belief in integrity in sports. Football at its best is a platform for unity, where each individual is valued and every fan feels a sense of belonging. Racism, prejudice, and exclusion contradict the essence of the game and deny people the opportunity to fully participate”.
The new SIGA Champions join a distinguished group of athletes, all united by the commitment to ensure that sports remain a model of ethics and integrity. Together, this dynamic coalition allows SIGA to advance its vision of a sports world governed by the highest standards, providing positive impacts for communities and citizens around the world.
Other Brazilian SIGA Champions include Kelly Santos Muller (basketball) and Tabata Viana (soccer).
Source: GMB
