杏吧论坛

Dr Jan Zglinski

This course is available on the BA in Anthropology and Law and LLB in Laws. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Sport has increasingly been in the public limelight over the past years. Events such as the announcement of the European Super League, the sanctions imposed against Russian athletes in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, and the human rights breaches committed in the context of the Football World Cup in Qatar have raised important political, ethical, economic, as well as, growingly, legal questions. This half-unit examines the foundations of and key developments in sports law and governance.

The module will introduce students to how sport governing bodies are organised, which regulatory constraints they are under, and how the sports justice system is structured. In addition, it will zoom in on the most pressing contemporary issues in the field, including the role of human rights, the protection of gender and racial equality, as well as issues surrounding financial sustainability and competitive balance. National, European, and international law will be assessed. Students will also be introduced to the concept of lex sportiva and the jurisprudence of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Examples will be drawn from a range of sports, including football, athletics, golf, baseball, ice skating, and those pertaining to the Olympic movement more broadly. The module will pursue a ‘law in context’ approach, looking at the legal developments in this field, while exploring their political, economic, and socio-cultural significance from a critical perspective.

Teaching and learning activities will include lecture elements as well as facilitated synchronous discussions, problem solving, and peer-to-peer elements such as small-group work. The module will follow the Universal Design for Learning philosophy to create an inclusive learning environment. Adjustments will be made for students with disabilities and learning difficulties. Slides and class questions will be posted in advance. The topics and readings will consider diverse views and voices.

Topics:

• The Structure of Sports: Governance Models and Lex Sportiva
• The Autonomy of Sports: Regulatory Freedoms and Restraints
• Sports Justice
• Athletes’ Rights
• Sports and Politics
• Human Rights
• Gender and Racial Equality
• Financial Sustainability
• Integrity of Sport: Doping and Betting
• Fans and I