Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: tighter betting controls as Joint Integrity Unit becomes operational
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are not only a global sporting event; they are also a major testing ground for the most advanced international strategies against manipulation, fraud and behaviours that threaten competitive integrity. The announcement of the Joint Integrity Unit (JIU), made on the International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December, marks a decisive step towards a more structured and multilayered preventative system.
This initiative stems from an unprecedented collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee, designed to oversee the complex ecosystem linked to sports betting. The decision reflects the rapid expansion of global betting markets and the persistent risk of manipulation that could undermine the credibility of the world’s most widely followed sporting event.
A dedicated operational unit: timeline and responsibilities
The Joint Integrity Unit will be active from 30 January to 24 February 2026, covering the opening of the Olympic Villages and the full duration of the Games. Its mission is to prevent, detect and address any form of integrity violation, including competition manipulation, corruption and unethical behaviour by accredited individuals.
According to Giuseppe Deleonardis, the IOC’s Ethics and Compliance Officer, the JIU aims to ensure the Games become “a global example of integrity”. The unit’s work goes far beyond technical monitoring: it represents an ethical safeguard built on clear procedures, defined intervention protocols and continuous coordination with competent authorities.
The operational framework draws on models tested at previous Olympics, starting with London 2012, which have since evolved through increased collaboration between sports bodies, law enforcement and betting regulators. Milano Cortina 2026 represents the most advanced evolution of this integrated approach.
Match fixing: a real threat tackled with advanced tools
One of the JIU’s central focuses is combating match fixing, the deliberate manipulation of sporting outcomes for betting-related gain. It is a rising and increasingly sophisticated threat that demands an equally sophisticated technological and investigative response.
To address this, the IOC will deploy a dedicated betting intelligence system, capable of analysing suspicious betting volumes, unusual patterns and irregular behaviours in real time. The system is connected to the global network of the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, which coordinates anti-manipulation policies and integrates data from betting operators, regulators and sports federations.
Every Olympic discipline has undergone a detailed risk assessment, shared with both national and international federations. This enables early identification of potential vulnerabilities and the implementation of tailored preventative measures.
Institutional partnerships and information sharing
The strength of the Joint Integrity Unit lies in its ability to connect stakeholders operating across different yet complementary sectors: sports bodies, regulators, betting operators, police forces and national institutions.
In Italy, the collaboration includes the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), national betting regulators and various international integrity organisations. This structure guarantees rapid, verified and coordinated information exchange – crucial for reacting to anomalies before they escalate into actual violations.
The JIU will also work with the Single Points of Contact appointed by sports federations and National Olympic Committees, ensuring communication is streamlined and integrity protocols are consistently applied.
Globally, the monitoring system is supported by an extensive network of technical partners and integrity service providers working with the IOC across multiple competitions. Their tools allow constant, granular surveillance – an essential requirement for an event on the scale of the Winter Olympic Games.
Lessons from Paris 2024 and the legacy of recent events
The strategy underpinning Milano Cortina 2026 builds on the experience gained in recent editions of the Games, most notably Paris 2024. There, the integration of monitoring systems, betting intelligence tools and close cooperation with industry stakeholders enabled a high level of oversight, with no significant cases of manipulation detected.
The IOC has repeatedly highlighted that the Paris model demonstrated the effectiveness of real-time data sharing and transnational coordination. Milano Cortina 2026 strengthens and expands this blueprint, adapting it to winter sports and to the regulatory framework of the host country.
Prevention and a culture of integrity: the role of “Believe in Sport”
Integrity protection is not limited to technological surveillance. Education and awareness play a central role in this strategy, targeting athletes, coaches and all accredited personnel.
Through the “Believe in Sport” campaign, the IOC will deploy ten Olympic ambassadors tasked with raising awareness about manipulation risks and promoting ethical behaviour. Their work aims to help athletes identify high-risk situations, understand potential consequences and learn how to report undue approaches or irregularities. The goal is to foster a collective culture of integrity that reduces manipulation risks at their source.
Educational programmes and dedicated communication tools will accompany delegations, staff and volunteers throughout the Games, positioning prevention as a shared and continuous commitment.
Towards a new global standard for sporting integrity
With the launch of the Joint Integrity Unit, Milano Cortina 2026 is poised to become a benchmark for integrity protection at major sporting events. The Games will not only showcase athletic excellence but also serve as an advanced laboratory for anti-manipulation strategies built on technological innovation, institutional cooperation and a strong culture of fair play.
In a landscape where the international betting market continues to grow and threats evolve rapidly, the ability to anticipate risks and respond in a coordinated manner is crucial. Milano Cortina 2026 aims to demonstrate that sporting spectacle, innovation and transparency can coexist, offering athletes and spectators a secure, credible and forward-looking Olympic environment.
This article was first published in Italian on 11 December 2025.
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