Don't try fixing the Olympics in Vancouver
If you were even thinking about trying to fix an event at the Vancouver Olympics, don't try it. New measures are in place to ensure that the 2010 Games are the cleanest Olympics ever.
According to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, "Illegal betting is as serious a threat for sport as doping." Considering 30 athletes have already been barred from the Olympics for failed blood tests, that must mean illegal betting is pretty serious.
The plan to combat gambling corruption is a multi-pronged system. First, obviously, is the barring of anyone involved with the Olympics from gambling. This includes athletes, judges, officials, and basically anyone who could have any effect whatsoever on any event. It's a "no duh" move, but it's necessary.
Next, the IOC has an agreement with Interpol, the international policing agency, to monitor gambling patterns. Furthermore, the IOC has entered into the same agreement with betting companies around the world.
The last, and perhaps most important, step was the IOC's founding of International Sports Monitoring in 2009, as a way to "protect the integrity of the Olympic Sports." The agency will do this by gathering gambling patterns from up to 450 oddsmakers and other betting firms, then flagging any irregularities.
A similar system was used during the Beijing Olympics and no illegal activity was found. We can only assume this plan will be just as effective this year.cSo all you Russian crime bosses out there reading this — don't even think about it.
