IPACS begins 2026 with emphasis on concrete deliverables
Additional translations of the Sport Governance Benchmark & Guidelines Handbook, a detailed strategy for disseminating this Handbook and an upcoming factsheet on artificial intelligence (AI) and (anti-)corruption in sport were the key areas of work discussed by the Partnership in the opening months of the year.
Seeking to build on progress made in 2025, particularly publication of the handbook version of the IPACS Sport Governance Benchmark & Guidelines, IPACS has set to work on both promoting existing knowledge products and creating new ones.
A path forward on the promotion of the newly published Handbook
A meeting of the IPACS Steering Committee on 10 March set the tone by agreeing on a path forward in relation to disseminating the Handbook. During the meeting, the Steering Committee members were also informed of the publication of German and Italian translations of the Handbook thanks to the support of the Swiss government. In the spirit of transparency, the full minutes of the meeting, along with other Steering Committee meeting minutes, are available on the IPACS website.
The Steering Committee was fully equipped to take its decision thanks to the committed work of a small group of experts who had produced an ambitious and detailed strategic roadmap for the dissemination of the Handbook. This group was established within the broader IPACS Good Governance Task Force during the Task Force’s last meeting of 2025, adopting an innovative approach to IPACS collaboration that allowed for more frequent meetings and tighter deadlines.
Building on multiple meetings of this smaller group, the Good Governance Task Force reconvened on 1 April. The Task Force experts offered their thoughts on the newly refined strategic roadmap and shared updates on developments pertaining to good governance within their organisations.
In the coming months, the Task Force will work on disseminating the Handbook through a number of activities. These include promoting it at key events, sharing it with stakeholders and securing endorsements. The Task Force will also set the groundwork for awareness-raising activities such as webinars.
Breaking new ground through a factsheet on AI and corruption in sport
During the 10 March Steering Committee meeting, the members were also briefed on preparations for a factsheet on AI and corruption in sport. This will be the first deliverable of the Partnership’s newest body, the Working Group on AI and (Anti-)Corruption in Sport.
On 25 March, the Working Group fleshed out the factsheet proposal in its first meeting of the year. Experts offered their insight on the key considerations that should be included in this brief document, and highlighted the importance of developing an accessible tool to help sports organisations in this evolving area. They also agreed to produce a more substantial policy paper that will go beyond the fundamentals outlined in the factsheet by potentially proposing recommendations and actions for sports organisations and governments.