IOC Sets up Unit to Monitor Betting and Detect Match-fixing at the 2026 Olympics

^{Pictured: Friedrich Martens, head of the OM Unit PMC}

The International Olympic Committee has announced the creation of a Joint Integrity Unit (JIU) that will operate during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

According to the IOC’s press release, the unit will begin work on 30 January and conclude operations on 24 February, covering the full period in which the Olympic Villages are open.

The JIU’s main task will be to ensure rapid coordination between the IOC, the Milano-Cortina 2026 Organising Committee and Italian law-enforcement agencies.

The unit will monitor potential violations, including attempted competition manipulation, corruption risks and betting-related abuses. The mechanism is based on the model first introduced at the London 2012 Games and used at all subsequent Olympics.

A particular focus will be betting monitoring. The IOC’s OM Unit PMC — responsible for preventing competition manipulation — will continue working through the Integrity Betting Intelligence System, which helps identify suspicious betting patterns and associated risks. The process involves Italy’s regulator ADM, the Italian National Olympic Committee, and several IOC partners, including IBIA, ULIS, Interpol, Europol and others.

The IOC will also launch educational initiatives under the Believe in Sport campaign. Athlete ambassadors will brief competitors and officials on the risks of match-fixing and the importance of maintaining fair-play standards.

Gambling Park notes that the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held from 6 to 22 February 2026.