The Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion (C-SEP) was specially invited by Mr. Nicolas Saydé, Coordinator of the Sport Integrity Division at the Council of Europe, and Mr. Corentin Segalen, Chairman of the Group of Copenhagen, to attend the regular meeting of the Group of Copenhagen (The Follow-Up Committee on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions) held in Paris, France, on June 19–20, 2025.
Mr. Hironori Inagaki, Representative Director of C-SEP, and Mr. Minoru Iwaki, Director of C-SEP and Chair of C-SEP’s International Committee, participated in the meetings onsite on both days. In addition, during the Open Session on the first day, Mr. Toshikazu Yamaguchi, Councilor of C-SEP, participated online to deliver a presentation.

・Copenhagen Group Meeting (on-site)

This meeting is one of the regular gatherings held twice a year by the Group of Copenhagen. The Group of Copenhagen is a network established under the “Macolin Convention,” the world’s first international legal framework addressing the manipulation of sports competitions, bringing together representatives from each country’s National Platform (NP). The network provides support with respect to detecting, prosecuting, and preventing manipulation of sports competitions. Within the Group of Copenhagen, participating countries engage in information sharing, monitoring, capacity building, and making policy recommendations, promoting the practical implementation of the Macolin Convention.

On the first day of the Open Session, approximately 60 participants from 30 countries attended. Representatives from various NPs and external organizations shared the latest global developments in measures against illegal sports betting. From Japan, Mr. Toshikazu Yamaguchi, Councilor of C-SEP, delivered a presentation entitled “The fight against the intrusions of Anti-Social Forces in professional sports,” in which he reflected on serious manipulation incidents and interventions by organized crime groups that the Japanese professional baseball world had faced over 50 years ago. He also introduced the institutional reforms that were implemented to exclude organized crime, as well as the initiatives undertaken collectively by the baseball community based on those lessons. Furthermore, he explained the necessity of strengthening Japan’s international cooperation and the significance of establishing a framework for the creation of an NP.

The program for the Regular Meeting of the Group of Copenhagen is available here.

・Open session

The second day focused primarily on discussions among NP representatives from each country, with updates from the Council of Europe and information sharing from the various working groups established within the Group of Copenhagen.

Through participation in this meeting, C-SEP obtained the latest insights on global measures against illegal sports betting, engaged in exchanges with government agencies, sports organizations, and industry bodies that make up NPs in various countries, and further strengthened its international network.

C-SEP will continue to collaborate with relevant domestic and international organizations to advance initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting fairness and integrity in sport, as well as combating illegal sports betting and preventing manipulation and corruption in sports competitions.