WBSC Ambassador Ayako Rokkaku opens Japanese Olympic Committee Education Programme on Integrity

WBSC Ambassador Ayako Rokkaku opens Japanese Olympic Committee Education Programme on Integrity
26/11/2021
"Top athletes are role models for millions of fans, so we have a responsibility to play safe, play clean and show respect to all participants," Rokkaku said.

Four-time WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup winner and WBSC Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition Ambassador Ayako Rokkaku said it is "essential" all top-level athletes educate themselves to be aware of the cause and effect of competition manipulation after making a presentation on the theme: Learning about the prevention of new threats, manipulation and match fixing, as part of an Integrity Education Programme organised by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC).

Rokkaku's presentation was the first in a series of educational talks for Japan's 2021 National Team and Progress Team members (including junior members) as well as coaches and national federation staff.

"It was such an honour to present the inaugural event of the integrity education programme organised by the Japan Olympic Committee," Rokkaku said. "In today's fast-paced digital world, it is essential that as a top-level athlete, we educate and protect ourselves by understanding the issues that exist about causes of competition manipulation and how athletes can be targeted. We are role models for millions of fans, so we have a responsibility to play safe, play clean and show respect to all participants."

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"Through this webinar, I trust the athletes will understand the importance of being honest with yourself and being honest with your teammates," Rokkaku added.

Rokkaku, 30, won the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup with the Japanese National Team in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016. She earned MVP honours in 2010.

A certified WBSC Baseball5 instructor, she is one of four WBSC Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition Ambassadors along with Randolph Oduber (Baseball, Aruba), Giovanni Pantaleoni (Baseball, Italy) and Ashley Stephenson (Baseball, Canada).

The WBSC Integrity Unit is currently hosting a series of webinars in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), about the Preventing Competition Manipulation, which is open to WBSC members.

The second Preventing Competition Manipulation webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, 30 November and is available to athletes.