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SMS Communication System - Athlete Location
Sport Institute of Portugal (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal, IP)
Portugal

The Problem

The Location System of the Athlete (Athletes Whereabouts System) is a key component of strategies to combat doping in sport currently in force worldwide. This system requires a set of athletes known as an anti-doping organization to integrate your target group of athletes required to submit information about their location - to associate a precise location for a period of 60 minutes for each day of the year . This information is critical to enable the conduct of doping controls out of competition. The implementation of these controls is a major factor in the deterrence of doping practices. The information is communicated to the concerned organization by doping athletes quarterly, but they must be able to update the information provided is expected whenever a change to it, having to do it forever until 24 hours before determination of change. However, there are exceptional situations at the last minute that would be difficult to notify the usual means: Until the implementation of the communication system of last-minute changes by SMS such changes could only be communicated to the national anti-doping organization (ADOP) by mail, and email or fax.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
The ability to communicate the changes to SMS allows athletes to use a simple phone to make the relevant communication, allowing the sending of updated information from anywhere and at any time. For example, if an athlete has provided a period of 60 minutes to be checked between 19:00 and 20:00 to 18:00 and has an unforeseen event that prevents you from being in the location indicated in a set period (for example, if have to take a family to a hospital emergency department, or if there is a breakdown in transportation systems) may communicate this change through a simple SMS, through this period to a little later.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
This solution was proposed by the Anti-Doping Authority Portugal (ADOP) and the project that led to its implementation with the collaboration of the Sports Institute of Portugal and a mobile telecommunications operator.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
The strategy for the implementation of this initiative was developed in three phases: 1. Obtaining financial support for implementing this measure, the same being secured by the Sports Institute of Portugal. 2. Selection of a mobile telecommunications operator technically able to implement the measure, followed by the practical use of the system. 3. Notice to athletes included in the Target Group of Athletes ADOP of sports federations and their implementation of the measure and the procedures for their use. The main objective of this measure is promoted by ADOP easier for athletes to fulfill their obligations under the System Location Athlete (Athletes Whereabouts System), specifically to give them a quick way to communicate last minute changes to the information pay under that system.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
This system is innovative because there was no expedient means for Athletes can inform the use of anti-doping organization last minute changes to the information they provide within the Location System Athlete. With the use of a technology that is currently widely available and carries a very low cost - sending an SMS only costs a few cents, it was possible to expedite the fulfillment of obligations to athletes in February on the fight against doping in sport.Timeline of Project:
February - meeting of ADOP with the first athletes to join the Location System - professional cyclists - where they expressed the need for the existence of a system shipped to the fulfillment of its obligations;
March - ADOP's decision to implement the communications system of last-minute changes by SMS;
Late March - decision of the Sports Institute of Portugal, and ADOP to include this measure in the proposed program measures promoted by SIMPLEX Secretary of State for Administrative Modernisation and submitting the application;
April - June - Selection of any companies that could make the implementation and operation of the system;
July - Award of service to the selected company;
August - October - design phase of the system, based on specifications defined by ADOP;
November - Creation of the first validation tests the system, which ensured the feasibility of it and communicate to athletes and sports federations of the existence of the system;
December - System Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The main obstacle to implementing the system resulted from the fact that the company was awarded the service have a system which, although approximate the technical requirements demanded by ADOP, not entirely fulfilled. It was necessary to create a new system from scratch to comply fully with these techniques. This process, of great technical complexity, it was superseded by the intervention of a contracting firm, specializes in creating innovative strategies in the context of mobile communications.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
The design, development and testing of this system required a significant effort in terms of human resources of the personnel of the Sports Institute of Portugal and ADOP.
This system, although it reflects a major streamlining of Location System of the Athlete, did not lead to very significant costs. In addition to designing and operating system, this measure entails paying a monthly fee for mobile communications company.
Design and operation: € 2750
Monthly fee: € (annual cost: €) 75

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
This system is sustainable in that it intended to remain in long-term operation, consisting of tools available to the athlete to meet the obligations that derive from it for inclusion in the Target Athletes of ADOP. Moreover, this system now fully operational, can serve as example for other international anti-doping organizations, which could use the same strategy and similar technology to achieve the same objective.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The implementation of this system resulted in a lower number of doping controls carried out not declared as a result of outdated information in the Location System of the Athlete (Athletes Whereabouts System) and therefore enhances a smaller number of anti-doping rule violations in future for the benefit of the athletes.
Moreover, this measure shows that it is sometimes necessary to spend large sums to create conditions to facilitate the citizens to fulfill their legal obligations. In short, this initiative is a good example of "egg of Columbus".

Contact Information

Institution Name:   Sport Institute of Portugal (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal, IP)
Institution Type:   Public Agency  
Contact Person:   José Vieira
Title:   VICE-PRESIDENT  
Telephone/ Fax:   00 351 213124801
Institution's / Project's Website:   00 351 213124988
E-mail:   paula.vilela@sejd.gov.pt  
Address:   AV. INFANTE SANTO, 76
Postal Code:   1399-032
City:   Lisbon
State/Province:  
Country:   Portugal

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