Strengthening Exchanges and Enhancing Research in Sports Law

From December 3 to December 7, 2023, Professor Yuan Gang, Vice Dean of the Law School of China University of Political Science and Law, led a delegation from the Institute of Sports Law of China University of Political Science and Law (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Sports Law Delegation’) to visit Japan and discuss the development of sports law research and practice with Hitotsubashi University, Toyo University, Japan Sports Arbitration Agency (JSAA) and others. The delegation of the Institute of Sports Law of China University of Political Science and Law (hereinafter referred to as ‘the delegation of the Institute of Sports Law’) visited Japan, and discussed with Hitotsubashi University, Toyo University, Japan Sports Arbitration Agency (hereinafter referred to as JSAA) and other institutions on the development of sports jurisprudence and practice. Professor Ma Hongjun, Director of the Sports Rule of Law Research Base of China University of Political Science and Law, Associate Professor Jiang Tao, Director of the Sports Law Institute of China University of Political Science and Law, Dr Xu Weikang of the Sports Law Institute of China University of Political Science and Law, Dr Mido of the Military Law Institute of China University of Political Science and Law, and Mr Wen Yaxiong, Secretary of the Sports Rule of Law Research Base of China University of Political Science and Law, participated in the visit.

Discussing Inter-University Cooperation

In order to further consolidate the exchanges and cooperation with Hitotsubashi University, a delegation of the Institute of Sports Law went to Hitotsubashi University in Japan to hold a discussion with Hitotsubashi University Vice President Hitoshi Aoki and others. Vice President Aoki expressed a warm welcome to the delegation of the Institute of Sports Law, recalled his experience of visiting China many times as a representative of the China Exchange Centre of Hitotsubashi University, introduced the development of sports jurisprudence in Japan, and looked forward to deepening the cooperation with China University of Political Science and Law through mutual visits and mutual learning. Professor Ma Hongjun expressed his sincere gratitude to Vice President Aoki for his warm reception. He introduced the 23-year development of the sports law discipline of China University of Political Science and Law from scratch to excellence, and outlined the establishment of the China Sports Arbitration Commission and the acceptance of related cases. Prof Yuan Gang recalled the deep connection between China University of Political Science and Law and Hitotsubashi University, three teachers from the Law School of China University of Political Science and Law had studied and visited Hitotsubashi University, and the secretary of the Law School, Mr. Liu Dawei, had led a team to visit Hitotsubashi University, and he hoped that through the symposium, he would inherit the tradition of the old generation, further learn from each other with Hitotsubashi University, deepen the friendship, and promote the co-operation. At the same time, the two sides discussed the language barrier, curriculum construction and other topics faced by the cooperation and exchange.

Deepening Inter-institutional Exchanges

For the purpose of further strengthen the relationship between the Law School of China University of Political Science and Law and the Law School of Hitotsubashi University, a delegation from the Institute of Sports Law went to the Law School of Hitotsubashi University to have exchanges with the Dean of the Law School, Professor Jiro Yashiki, the Vice-Dean of the Law School, Professor Ryo Butami, Professor Kaike Takeshita, and Professor Wang Yunhai, and so on. Both sides reviewed the good relationship between the Law School of China University of Political Science and Law and the Law School of Hitotsubashi University, exchanged views on sports dispute resolution and sports law research, and looked forward to more in-depth and diversified co-operation in student exchanges, faculty visits, co-operation in research and other aspects in the future.

Talent Cultivation

So as to further understand the cultivation of rule of law talents in Japan, the delegation of the Institute of Sports Law, led by Professor Wang Yunhai, visited the library and the mock courtroom of the Faculty of Law of Hitotsubashi University. In the classroom of Hitotsubashi University School of Law, Professor Wang Yunhai introduced to the delegation that since the implementation of the reform of legal education in Japan in 2004, the enrolment of master's degree and doctoral degree students of Hitotsubashi University School of Law has undergone a significant change, mainly focusing on the enrolment and cultivation of overseas master's degree and doctoral degree students, of which master's degree and doctoral degree students from China take up a large proportion. The enrolment of the Law School of Hitotsubashi University Law School is one of the highest in Japan, which is largely attributed to the fact that the students trained by the Law School of Hitotsubashi University Law School have always been among the top students in Japan in terms of the passing rate of the judicial examination, which has led to a shift in the human resources cultivation responsibilities of the law teachers. In addition, the delegation also asked Professor Wang Yunhai about the model of the preparatory examination for the judicial examination, which is one of the ‘dual-track system’, and in particular, about the fact that the University of Tokyo still retains the traditional model of legal education.

Learning from the experience of the system

For the sake of promote the implementation of the sports arbitration system in China and to give full play to the role of sports arbitration as the pivot of sports dispute resolution, the delegation of the Institute of Sports Law exchanged views with the Sports Arbitration Institution of Japan (SAIJ). Attorney Sugiyama, Director of the Sports and Entertainment Committee of the Japan Federation of Lawyers and Director of the Japan Sports Dispute Arbitration Institution, gave a speech on the theme of ‘Development of Sports Arbitration in Japan’, introducing in detail the establishment and history of the Japan Sports Arbitration Institution (JSAI), the operation of the JSAI, the acceptance and hearing of cases of the JSAI, and so on. The lecture introduced in detail the establishment and history of Japan Sports Arbitration Institution, the current operation of Japan Sports Arbitration Institution, the cases received and heard by Japan Sports Arbitration Institution. Prof. Ma Hongjun, Prof. Yuan Gang, Associate Prof. Jiang Tao and Mr. Wen Yaxiong had an in-depth discussion with Mr. Sugiyama on the scope of sports arbitration, online hearing of sports arbitration, and the connection between sports arbitration and sports industry associations, etc. The two sides expect to establish an exchange mechanism in the field of sports arbitration in the future, and to promote multi-dimensional cooperation.

Mutual Promotion of Discipline Development

In order to further study and learn from the development of the discipline of sports law, a delegation of the Institute of Sports Law went to Toyo University in Japan and had a discussion with Professor Hideyuki Hamura of Toyo University Sports Law. Professor Hideyuki Hamamura is a famous water polo player in Japan, who has participated in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other major international sports events as a member of the Japanese national team, and is currently specialising in the study and teaching of sports law. Professor Hideyuki Hamamura introduced the sports law curriculum and teaching situation of Toyo University to the delegation of the Institute of Sports Law, and had an in-depth exchange of views with the delegation on the development of the discipline of sports law and the law of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) decisions, which he is currently summarising, as well as the relationship between sports law and sectoral law, and the criminal law of doping, and other issues.