IOC taps Genius Sports to track 2016 Rio Olympics betting

With only a week before the 2016 Rio Olympics kicks off, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has tapped a gambling watchdog that will monitor any forms cheating in the games.

In a statement, London-based sports data technology Genius Sports announced that the IOC has tapped the firm to monitor the possible manipulation of its competitions related to sports betting in the 2016 Rio Olympics, which will start on August 5.

Through the so-called Sport Integrity Monitor (SportIM) service, Genius Sports and IOC will be able to work with governing bodies and betting operators to prevent and manage the integrity concerns associated with match-fixing and betting-related corruption.

Genius Sports’ SportIM will use data from regulated and unregulated betting markets, looking for anything unusual, which might suggest match-fixing. It will report trends in real time to sport governing bodies, leaving them to decide whether anything is amiss.