Pepperdine Caruso Law Students Participate in Immersive Olympic and International Sports Law Study Tour in Switzerland and Paris
Pepperdine Caruso Law professor Maureen A. Weston and sports arbitrator Jeff Benz recently led a group of Pepperdine Caruso Law students on a ten-day immersive study tour to Switzerland and Paris, focusing on Olympic and International Sports Law and Dispute Resolution.
Geneva: Diplomacy and Arbitration
The study tour began with three days in Geneva, Switzerland, where students explored the strategic role of the city in global diplomacy. Highlights included visits to the United Nations, the International Museum of the Red Cross, and the Alabama Room that convened the first Geneva Convention and established international commercial arbitration. The participants also visited the World Trade Organization, where they learned how sport, trade, intellectual property, and economic development intersect. At Pepperdine University's Château d’Hauteville campus in Blonay - Saint-Légier, students engaged in mock Olympic athlete selection disputes and anti-doping arbitration hearings. The mock hearings provided hands-on learning experiences in a real-world setting.
Lausanne: The Heart of International Sports
In Lausanne, Switzerland, students met with lawyers at various international sports federations, including World Aquatics, the International Equestrian Federation, and the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation. A special reception at the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowed them to network with Swiss sports lawyers, and culminating at the Olympic Museum where the students were first to witness the Olympic torch's arrival alongside the president of the International Olympic Committee deliver a welcome to delegates.
Paris: Anti-Doping and Sports Governance
The journey continued to Paris, France, where students met with officials from five departments of the French Anti-Doping Agency to understand the anti-doping measures for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympic Games. They also delved into sports governance and dispute resolution with the French National Olympic Committee. An Olympic City tour showcased the sites for the upcoming Olympic events and the rich history of Paris. The visit concluded with an intimate reception hosted by French sports lawyers, providing insights into the role of sports lawyers in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
As Los Angeles prepares to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2028, Pepperdine Caruso Law Sports Law students are poised to contribute their knowledge and skills gained from this invaluable international experience. Professor Weston and the Caruso Law students are grateful to professor emeritus Janet Kerr for providing a scholarship subsidy that enabled students to experience the incredible study tour.