KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) --  The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) organised its 2^nd edition of the International Sports Law Conference 2019 (SLAC 2019) themed ‘Stepping Up to the Crease: Asia’s Meteoric Rise in the World of Sports’, at Bangunan Sulaiman on 27 September 2019.
 
The theme of SLAC 2019 not only explored key advancements and contemporary issues in international sports law ranging from the Sandpapergate scandal, to genetic and biological variations in track and field, as well as competing rights on freedom of speech and public interest highlighted through the Australian rugby crisis, but also discuss Asia’s meteoric rise in the world of sports.
 
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, YB Steven Sim Chee Keong, in his speech, in summary highlighted that the Malaysian Government is committed to continuing its efforts under the 2009 National Sports Policy to develop high performance athletes from the country and push the sports industry further including but not limited to the e-sports sector. YB also added that the potential establishment of the Akademi Sukan Negara will provide the necessary infrastructure to cater to the Malaysian athletes and help us as a nation, to achieve long-term sporting laurels for the country.
 
SLAC 2019’s conference keynote speaker, Professor Richard McLaren OC, of the famed McLaren Report and Member of the Court of Arbitration for Sports and World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Person, meanwhile, in summary highlighted that we are now in an Asian century with the world witnessing a dramatic rise in Asia in the field of sports. He added that apart from recent trends of nationalism in sports such as cricket and football, one cannot distance the spectator nature of these sports, having also become more commercialized with international investments and sponsorships, impacting sporting bodies and associations. Professor McLaren also touched on the need for Asian countries to invest in sporting talent, training and infrastructure, and step up efforts towards creating a conducive environment for athletes which would, in turn, result in better sporting achievements for athletes. With these in mind, and with the appropriate framework in place, Professor McLaren commented that Malaysia is rightly placed as a potential hub to support both sports development and related sports arbitrations.
 
The conference had five interactive sessions featuring leading experts, engaging in diverse topics ranging from controversial sporting issues and recent decisions from the Court of Arbitration for Sports, match-fixing, and safety in sports. The conference also set the stage for the discussion of current issues such as evolving legal issues in Esports, as well gender and racial equality among athletes in the world of sports.
 
The SLAC 2019 witnessed more than 200 participants and featured 25 speakers, echoing ‘Malaysia Boleh’ in the field of sports law and dispute resolution. 

Source: Asian International Arbitration Centre

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Name: Leonard Loh
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Email: leonard@aiac.world

--BERNAMA