Led by the World Anit-Doping Authority (WADA), Play True Day is observed around the world and shines a spotlight on the collective responsibility we all share – athletes, support personnel, sporting organisations and educators alike – to protect sport and champion competition that is honest, safe and fair.
At Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), Play True Day is more than a single moment in the calendar. It is a reflection of our purpose and a chance to actively engage with our people and the sporting community on why clean sport matters.
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Three weeks of Play True challenges
To celebrate Play True Day this year, SIA embraced a three‑week program of fun, inclusive challenges designed to spark conversation, encourage participation and reinforce Play True values across the organisation.
Staff took part in a series of friendly challenges, including:
- Pickleball, bringing teammates together through one of the world’s fastest‑growing sports
- Speed typing, testing focus, precision and a little competitive spirit
- Basketball free throws, showcasing coordination, persistence and plenty of personal milestones.
While the challenges were lighthearted, they served an important purpose – creating space to reflect on integrity in sport while connecting as a team.
Participation across the organisation was enthusiastic, with staff supporting one another, sharing their efforts and celebrating achievements along the way.
Wrapping up with an inspiring panel conversation
SIA’s Play True Day celebrations concluded with a virtual panel event, attended by friends and partners from across the Pacific, featuring three respected voices from international sport:
- Ella Sabljak - Australian wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby player, Paralympian, member of SIAs Athlete Advisory Group and WADA Athlete Council
- Toby Cunliffe‑Steel – former New Zealand rower and national representative, a member of New Zealand Sport Integrity Commission’s Athlete Advisory Group, member of the WADA Advisory Council and member of the WADA Working Group on Contaminations
- Ryan Pini – 4-time Olympic swimmer from Papua New Guinea, WADA Athlete Council Chair and a member of the WADA Executive Committee.
The panel shared powerful, personal perspectives on clean sport, exploring why each panellist advocates for athletes, the role of integrity in sport, and the changes needed to better support athletes now and in the future.
Throughout the conversation, panelists discussed the real‑world impact of clean sport, from trust in competition to athlete wellbeing and they spoke candidly about the responsibility shared by sporting organisations, administrators and communities to prioritise the athlete voice when establishing and embedding integrity frameworks.
Their insights reinforced a key message at the heart of Play True Day: protecting clean sport is not static work. It requires listening, collaboration and a willingness to evolve alongside athletes and the sporting landscape.
A shared commitment to Play True
Play True Day provides an opportunity to pause, reflect and recommit to the values that make sport meaningful. At SIA, it also highlights the passion and dedication of our people, who work every day to help protect Australia’s sporting integrity.
Our celebrations demonstrated that conversations about clean sport don’t have to be formal or complex to be impactful. When integrity is embedded into everyday actions, whether through learning, discussion or play, it becomes part of culture.
Join the conversation
Want to see how SIA celebrated Play True Day?
Visit SIA’s social media channels to explore highlights from the challenges, behind‑the‑scenes moments and reflections from our Play True Day activities.
Together, we can continue to champion clean sport and ensure the values of fairness, respect and integrity remain at the heart of sport – today and into the future.