Protecting Human Rights in Sport

Examine human rights as a core pillar of sport integrity, not as a peripheral or political issue, and to assess how sport institutions, courts, and event organizers address (or fail to address) human rights concerns in both everyday sport and mega sporting events

This session explores the relationship between human rights and sport integrity, examining both everyday sport and mega sporting events. It will consider how legal and ethical frameworks apply to sport, highlight key risks faced by athletes, and analyze how courts, tribunals, and governing bodies engage with human rights issues. Through targeted case studies, the roundtable will explore both challenges and progress in protecting human rights in sport.

Topics:

• How respect for human rights connects to the integrity of sport

• Legal and ethical bases for applying human rights to sport

• Human rights risks athletes face in day-to-day sport and challenges in enforcement

• The case for or against a stand-alone sports and human rights court

• Human rights risks and potential benefits of hosting mega sporting events

• Considering human rights records in awarding event hosting rights

• Integrating human rights into mega sporting event host organizations and supply chains

• Case study: Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games

• Case study: Caster Semenya and the European Court of Human Rights decision

• Role of courts and tribunals (e.g., CAS, SDRCC) in human rights enforcement

• Can sport remain politically neutral while protecting human rights?

• Key challenges, progress, and areas of opportunity in advancing human rights in sport