HBKU College of Law examines major sport events from perspective of legal compliance

The College of Law at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently held a webinar titled “Legal Compliance and Major Sports Events” focusing on international legal standards as they relate to major sports events such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and the Asian Games.

The session highlighted how sports, which were traditionally self-regulated, have become subject to intense legal scrutiny. It examined the treaties, rules, regulations, and norms that govern prestigious sporting competitions against the background of the broad spectrum of legal challenges for governing bodies, public agencies, and other stakeholders. The discussion specifically broke down the complexities of regulating anti-corruption, anti-doping, and labor rights. A major theme from the session was the need for transparency, integrity, and good governance, both as to the games and the environment in which they are hosted. A second overriding lesson is that major sports events have the potential to build an economic, social, and environmental legacy. The session identified the drivers of this legacy. The panel featured Nicola Bonucci, Managing Director, Global Trade and Investigations and White Collar Defense, Paul Hastings LLP (Paris) and the previous Legal Director of the Organization for Economic Development (OECD); Alix Nasri, Technical Specialist, Labour Migration and Employment, International Labour Organization, Doha, and Dr. Zachary Calo, professor at the College of Law, HBKU, who teaches a course on Sports Law. HBKU College of Law Dean Susan L. Karamanian chaired the session. Speaking after the event, Dean Karamanian said: “Major sports events involve many participants and spectators, along with substantial investment, whether from the host city or country as well as the private sector. The issues discussed in the HBKU Law forum, including ones related to procurement, labor reform, sustainability and legacy, are highly relevant to Qatar as it prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 and other major sports events.”