Clean Sport = Fair Outcome

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Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen.

Sport plays a vital role in people's lives.

Great sporting events and achievements make us all proud and happy.

They bring us together.

Sports influences our health and our quality of life.

That is why we are so dissappointed when atleats cheat.

Doping is one of the major threats to our sporting values.

Fair play and clean sport is crucial to the integrity of sport and sport competitions. Sport movements show their credibility or lack of credibility in their fight for these values.

Over the last few years we have witnessed considerable challenges and threats to this integrity.

We need to stand united in the global fight against doping in sports.

And we must do so with the best interests of clean athletes at heart.

I`m pleased to experience the initiative that has been taken by World Forum for Ethics in Business, FairSport and Anti-Doping Norway in organizing this impressive event.

As Prime Minister of Norway, I am proud to be head of a Government that is securing a solid and sustainable support and funding for our national anti-doping organization, Anti-Doping Norway.

The anti-doping structure in Norway is based on the principle of independence, separation of power and providing a transparent and fair system.

I am proud of the work Anti-Doping Norway does and the results they achieve.

Both through:

• The extensive anti-doping program the organization has developed here in Norway, and
• Through international anti-doping involvement and bilateral anti-doping collaboration taking place between Anti-Doping Norway, Kenya, Turkey, China and today also United States.

The Ministry of Culture receives valuable input and contributions to national anti-doping issues and the Norwegian anti-doping policy through Anti-Doping Norway.

Also ongoing is an extensive cooperation on international level and responsibilities such as:

• Council of Europe's Anti-Doping Convention,
• The UNESCO's International Convention against Doping in Sport, and lately,
• A joint support to WADA Vice President, Linda Hofstad Helleland, my cabinet Minister for Children and Equality.

Finally, I would like to underline the importance of basing the worldwide fight against doping on the principles of good governance.

Therefore I support my Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland in her role as Vice President of WADA. And her effort for good governance and being an advocate for the clean athletes.

All anti-doping work must be transparent, open and accountable.

Done with respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Looking at the program for today's conference, I am sure that today will be interesting and useful for international anti-doping work going forward.

We as Governments need to take a leading role in the way forward.

I hereby declare the conference "Clean Sport - Fair Outcome" for opened.

Thank you.