Dispute Resolution Law Journal Hosts Symposium on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

On Friday, April 9th the Dispute Resolution Law Journal hosted its annual symposium. This year's topic was Tokyo 2020 Rescheduled: Implications for Athletes, Governing Bodies, Commercial Parties, and Dispute Resolution. The event brought together top international and Olympic sport authorities, leaders, arbitrators, and lawyers to discuss the complex issues involved in the first-ever postponement of the Olympic Games. Over 200 attendees participated to learn more about the current issues facing the Olympics and international sports.

The program consisted of a keynote speaker, two panels, and a virtual luncheon. Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, provided the keynote address and noted the challenges of coordinating the Olympic Games in a pandemic as well as the many policy issues that intersect with sport. The first panelists included Pepperdine Caruso Law alumni at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, USA Track and Field, as well as athlete attorneys, who discussed the impacts of the postponement on athletes, governing bodies, and commercial dealings. The second panel consisted of leaders and arbitrators with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to address dispute management and resolution that takes place at the Olympic Games.

The symposium's distinguished speakers were:

• Lord Sebastian Coe, President, World Athletics, Port Hercules, Monaco
• Maureen Weston, Professor of Law, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Malibu, California
• Kacie Wallace (LL.M. '05), Athlete Ombuds, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Norman Wain (JD '96), General Counsel and Chief of Business Affairs, USA Track and Field, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Jeff Cook ('03, JD '06), General Counsel, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Howard Jacobs, Attorney at Law, Offices of Howard L. Jacobs, Westlake, California
• Jeff Benz, JAMS/Court of Arbitration for Sport and Door Tenant at 4 New Square
• Steven Smith, Managing Partner, Bryan Cave, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Matt Mitten, Professor and Executive Director National Sports Law Institute, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Maidie Oliveau, Counsel, Arent Fox LLP, Los Angeles, California
• Michael Lenard OLY, President, Court of Arbitration for Sport Ad hoc Division,Tokyo Olympic Games, and Vice President, International Council of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland

The symposium would not have been possible without Professor Maureen Weston's connection to those at the epicenter of the current issues facing the Olympics. Professor Weston is the Dispute Resolution Law Journal's faculty advisor.