Featured by Sportintern

The head of the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) Sunil Sabharwal, said he wants to make 2026 "the year when fairness is not just something we talk about, but something we live” following his first year as CIFP president, in 2025, that he said showcased how human spirit can recognise injustice and fight for the opposite. 

Sabharwal said 2025 was filled with moments from the field of play to the economic and administrative side of sport, from local level to international competitions, with stories including the 15th National Games in China that witnessed a rerun of the mixed 4x400m relay final following a technical error that resulted in additional bronze medals that the CIFP President said proved fairness “was a corrective action.”

He also recalled how FIFA heeded calls to adjust ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, recognising “sportbelongs to the many, not just the few,” while doping efforts were ramped up as seen in higher number of detected cases in countries such as India. He pointed to this as signalling beefed up systems and stronger commitment against cheating.

Sabharwal also acknowledged that with time fair play efforts have evolved, highlighting the role being played by technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in improving officiating and judging, including in sports such as gymnastics.

“Detection is the first step toward deterrence, but our mission is being fought on two vital fronts: technology and education,” Sabharwal said, underlining the work on the tech front to monitor and detect potential irregularities in competition to ensure “fair play is no longer just a distant aspiration but a monitored, data-driven reality.”

With a tech investment background, Sabharwal also warned about the ethical aspect of the use of AI as well as the risks associated with its use, cautioning “an algorithm is only as fair as the data that feeds it” and reiterating the need to ensure responsible use of such technology.

Looking ahead to 2026, Sabharwal expressed anticipation for the second celebration of the World Fair Play Day on 19 May after the United Nations officially recognised the date, sending a global message on the significance of efforts to promote fair play.

“You do not need a stadium to practice fair play; you only need to look at your surroundings - your office, your school, your local club - and ask, ‘How can I tilt this environment toward fairness today,’” Sabharwal said. “Fairness does not prevail by accident; it prevails because people like you decide that it must.”

@sportintern