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How does international sports law intersect with broader issues of human rights, such as discrimination, gender equity, and freedom of expression?

Prosper Lassells

Well, that's a really interesting question. I think international sports law and human rights definitely intersect, but it's not always clear how or to what extent.

On one hand, you have issues like discrimination and gender equity that are clearly related to sports. For example, if a female soccer player is being paid less than her male counterpart for doing the same job, that's an issue of gender equity that falls under both sports law and human rights. Similarly, if a black athlete is being discriminated against because of their race, that's a violation of both sports law and human rights.

But on the other hand, you have issues like freedom of expression that may not be as closely tied to sports. For example, if an athlete wants to speak out about a political issue, that's arguably their right to free speech. But does that fall under the umbrella of sports law or human rights? It's not entirely clear.

I think one reason this intersection can be difficult to navigate is because sports are often seen as separate from the rest of society. We like to think of sports as a neutral space where everyone is judged solely on their athletic ability, but of course, that's not really true. Sports are just as affected by things like race, gender, and politics as any other part of our culture.

So, to sum up, I think international sports law and human rights do intersect, but it's not always a straightforward or easy-to-understand connection. There are definitely times when sports law can be used to protect human rights (or vice versa), but there are also times when the two things may not align perfectly. It's a complex issue, but one that's certainly worth exploring further.