My Take | A sports dispute resolution system is long overdue in Hong Kong
A passion for sport is starting to take hold in the city along with a desire to host ‘mega’ events. But there is no clear process for settling differences
Hong Kong’s growing enthusiasm for sport following medal-winning feats at the Olympics and a desire to host “mega” international events could be a game-changer for the city. A vibrant sports culture might even develop. This is long overdue.
But with ever higher amounts of public money pumped into the sector and the staging of more elite competitions, the potential for disputes will also rise.
These might involve the results of competitions, doping, disciplinary matters, contracts, sponsorship or broadcasting rights and involve athletes, sports associations and other related parties.
The development of mechanisms for the resolution of sports disputes is a global trend. But Hong Kong has barely got out of the starting blocks. The city has no clear, unified process for settling such differences. It needs to put one in place.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu confirmed in his policy address last week that the establishment of a system for sports dispute resolution is being explored. The Department of Justice said in a paper to the Legislative Council in May that the local sports industry is keen to have a neutral, fair and efficient system for resolving disputes. There was a consensus among stakeholders, it added, that a mechanism for settling differences would bring benefits.
It has taken years to reach this point. The importance of the issue was flagged by then-secretary for justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah in 2020 at a sports dispute resolution conference in the city. That summit, she said, was a “first step” to promote arbitration and mediation for sports.
Since then, Thailand has set up a sports resolution centre and the China Commission for Arbitration for Sport was established last year.
