Contracts play a crucial role in the world of sport, particularly long-term contracts. Contractual agreements form the foundation of transnational sports governance, sports governing bodies, SBGs, are all formally the product of a specific time of contract (be it in the form of an association or corporation) often justifying the autonomy of sport and its private governance at a (more or less far) distance from the state.
Moreover, contracts establish long-term commitments between the parties involved, raising a variety of questions regarding the asymmetry in their positions, the scope of party autonomy, contractual mechanisms for addressing uncertainty, and their interaction with domestic and international mandatory regulations, among others. In short, it is impossible to fully understand the operation and limitations of transnational sports law and governance without investigating the many ways in which it is embedded in long-term contracts ruled by a variety of contract laws.
This workshop proposes to explore the role of long-term contracts in sport and their characteristics through a variety of theoretical and methodological lenses.
We welcome proposals touching on the following issues/case studies:
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- The concept of time in sport and the definition of ‘long-term’ in sport-related contracts;
- The function of long-term contracts in transnational sports governance;
- The function of long-term contracts in the operation of private dispute resolution mechanisms (CAS, BAT, FIFA DRC);
- The transactional nature of long-term contracts in sport;
- The relational nature of long-term contracts in sport;
- The conflict between private autonomy and long-term contracts in sport;
- The intersection between private and public in the operation of long-term contracts in sport;
- Specific contractual arrangements, including:
- Contracts of association and SGBs
- Long-term (labour) contracts with athletes and coaches;
- Contracts related to the organization of mega-sporting events, including host city contracts;
- TV and media long-term contracts;
- Sponsorship agreements;
- and more.
Keynote speaker
Antoine Duval, Senior Researcher, Asser Institute
Timeline
15 June 2025 – Submission of abstracts
30 June 2025 – Confirmation of participation
30 October 2025 – Submission of extended abstract (approximately 3000 words).
Contact information
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- Yuliya Chernykh
Professor
yuliya.chernykh@inn.no | +47 61 28 75 44 - Antoine Duval
Senior researcher
a.duval@asser.nl
- Yuliya Chernykh
Organizers
Asser International Sports Law Centre, Legal development research group at Inland School of Business and Social Sciences, University of Inland Norway, and Lillehammer Olympic Studies Centre
