Game INTEGRITY blog
Blog content represents the author’s opinion only, based upon available research and professional experiences in sport. All content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon or taken as advice or a Game Integrity service. Specific information and assistance on issues relevant to your sport may be delivered via engagement of Game Integrity’s services.
One Sport, One Voice. But Who Gets the Vote?
The future of Australian sports governance should involve modern, efficient and professionally managed organisations.
But it must also respect the legal and democratic foundations on which many of those organisations were established.
One sport, one voice may be a worthwhile aspiration. But good governance also requires asking who gets to speak, who gets to decide, and who holds the decision-makers accountable.
A Code of Conduct for the Board. But Who Holds the Directors Accountable?
A directors' code of conduct is an important component of good sports governance. But it should not be regarded as another compliance document to be adopted, signed and filed away. Its real value lies in establishing clear expectations, supporting ethical decision-making, and providing a credible basis for holding directors accountable.
Ultimately, sporting organisations must be prepared to apply the standards they establish — including when doing so is uncomfortable, politically difficult or involves one of their own.
Integrity should not stop at the boardroom door. The people who make and oversee the rules must also be willing to be held accountable to them.
Mat Jessep appointed as Associate Member, Australian Centre for Olympic & Sport Studies
Lead Consultant, Mat Jessep, has been appointed as an Associate Member of the UTS Australian Centre for Olympic and Sport Studies (ACOSS), focusing on sports law, governance, integrity, and esports.
You Better get a lawyer, sport.
This article reviews the Determination of National Sports Tribunal Member Bruce Collins KC as Arbitrator in the case of Olga Belooussov v Gymnastics Australia NST-E24-331101.
As integrity systems mature, the question is no longer whether organisations have policies, but whether those policies — and the decisions made under them — can withstand legal challenge. This requires legal expertise not just at the point of dispute, but at the design, investigation, and decision-making stages.
‘Esports Governance Models’ by Mat Jessep
Mat Jessep, Lead Consultant, Game Integrity, provides a chapter on ‘Governance Models in Esports’ to the all new 'Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Sports Law'.
When Integrity Fails: What Sporting Organisations Get Wrong (And How to Fix It)
When integrity fails, the question is no longer “did you have a policy?” It becomes: “did you handle it properly?” If you’re not confident in the answer, it may be time to test your system before someone else does.