European Aquatics named Sport Organisation of the Year at first SIGA Sport Integrity Awards in Riyadh

European Aquatics has been named as Sport Organisation of the Year at the inaugural SIGA Sport Integrity Awards which took place tonight at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center (Malham) in Saudi Arabia.

The SIGA (Sport Integrity Global Alliance) citation said the award recognised the “remarkable governance reforms and integrity advancements” within European Aquaticsunder the leadership of its President, Antonio Silva.

It added: “Through the adoption of a comprehensive Integrity Code, the establishment of an independent Integrity Unit and measurable participation in initiatives such as the Sport Transparency Index and  SIRVS (SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System) Certification, European Aquatics has demonstrated a concrete and transparent commitment to integrity and good governance.

“These milestones set a new benchmark for excellence and accountability across the global sporting community.”

In response, EA President Silva commented:

“European Aquatics is extremely proud and grateful to receive the Sport Integrity Award from SIGA.

“This award recognises the concerted efforts made over recent years – and reminds us of our unwavering responsibility to continue upholding transparency, fairness, and ethical leadership across all levels of aquatic sport.

“Integrity guides our decision-making, governance, and relationships with athletes, coaches, and national federations alike.

“We committed to creating a culture where trust and respect are non-negotiable. We want to lead by example – strengthening systems of accountability, fostering an educational approach to integrity and promoting clean competition in all our disciplines.”

Francisco Melo, chief of cabinet of SIGA’s Global CEO, added: “We are honoured to recognise your achievements and celebrate your remarkable contribution to advancing the values that lie at the heart of SIGA’s mission.”

Earlier, EA President Silva had taken part in a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing sports organisations today which also featured Katie Reed, general counsel for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and moderator Katie Simmonds, SIGA’s Global Chief Commercial Officer.

Silva, who is also a member of the SIGA Council, emphasized the importance of broadening sports participation by attracting athletes, partners, and supporters, highlighting credibility as the cornerstone of sustainable growth in sports. He advocated for governance reforms that foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and integrity, citing European Aquatics’ successful implementation of gender balance in leadership roles and technical committees. 

In March of this year European Aquatics received the Bronze Certification for its governance following a three-year process of assessment by SIGA.

The certification process by the SIRVS was instigated in 2022, the year Antonio Silva was elected as EA President.

EA thus joined a distinguished group of organisations that have undergone independent SIRVS certification which includes the European Rugby League, Liga Portugal, Brazilian football giant São Paulo FC and the Swiss-based FIDE (International Chess Federation).

Reflecting upon the progress made in this area by European Aquatics, Silva told the gathering in Riyadh:

“For us, it was very important to put our organization at a high level of trust, transparency, and integrity. We implemented new procedures and policies to ensure good governance and to gain credibility. Certification and independent assessment were important to ensure our sustainability initiatives were real and not just marketing.

“We introduced in our constitution that at least 40% of our board and committees must be women. Now, at least 50% of our technical committees are women. We created networks to help more women become leaders, at both national and continental levels.

“European Aquatics started a strategic plan for diversity, equity, inclusion, and integrity. Last year, 70% of our national commission members were from diverse backgrounds. Every year we hold a Diversity and Inclusion conference with our Congress.

“Integrity and credibility are essential. SIGA’s Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS) helps to show that governance is taken seriously and processes are implemented to protect the organization from financial and reputational risk.”

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics

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