London 2012: Olympics betting event-fixers targeted

Olympics organisers are to set up a dedicated intelligence unit to target betting syndicates at the London Games. The specialist team will monitor suspicious betting patterns and share intelligence on those who attempt to bribe athletes into fixing events. It will comprise the International Olympic Committee, Gambling Commission and if required, the police. Olympic Minister Hugh Robertson told the Sunday Times fixing had overtaken doping as the event's biggest threat. "You cannot underestimate the threat this poses because the moment that spectators start to feel that what they are seeing is not a true contest, that is when spectators stop turning up and the whole thing turns to pieces," he said. "At some stage over the next two or three years, we will have some other sort of betting scandal in some sport. I just hope it's not at the Olympics." The intelligence unit will target syndicates who may try to "spot fix" events or outcomes within matches. Mr Robertson said Western betting authorities were well equipped to identify illegal activities, but criticised regulation in the Far East and sub-continent. In November, three Pakistani cricketers were jailed for spot fixing during a 2010 Test match against England. Spot betting involves gamblers staking money on the minutiae of sporting encounters, such as the exact timing of the first throw-in during a football match. The Department for Culture Media and Sport said the new unit would be operational throughout the 2012 Games. A spokesman said: "It will be able to obtain and draw on information and intelligence from various sources including the Betting Commission, national Olympic commissions and Interpol on any suspicious betting patterns or intelligence surrounding match fixing." He said the department had also consulted on making changes to the Gambling Act 2005 to ensure the Gambling Commission could share intelligence from police and other agencies. People will be able to report any suspicious activity via an "email hotline", he added.