76002 Sports Law

Description

The law of sport and recreation is a commercial law subject. This is to be expected in an industry that is a major economic driver, generating revenue in the billions of dollars each year in Australia. Indeed, with the rise of the digital media, internationalisation and the increasing recognition of female competitions, sport is one of the world's fastest growing enterprises. With that growth comes a recognition of how the law guides and affects the business of sport and, in consequence, a growing demand for lawyers with pertinent expertise. Major sporting events such as an Australian grand final or an international fixture rely on legal advice touching on areas as diverse as event management, marketing and intellectual property, the avoidance of tortious law suits and on-field criminal assaults. Moreover, the public interest and financial stakes involved in sport disputes often leads to litigation within a few weeks of a cause of action arising. The increasing number of law journals in North America and Europe publishing on legal developments in sport is testament to the growing interest in and importance of the law of sport.

Within the broad areas of legal interest listed, a number of specific issues may arise, for example: what rights of appeal exist for non-selected athletes; prosecution for corruption and doping; athlete liability for off-field misconduct; to whom do team doctors owe their duty of care; are athletes illegally exploited by major sporting organisations; are sporting disciplinary tribunals entitled to cancel an athlete's contract; how should a sporting organisation deal with claims of discrimination; are coaches and clubs legally liable for the actions of their athletes; is it legal to exclude an athlete or member of the public from a sporting venue; when is a referee legally liable in tort?