QICDRC is hosting a seminar on the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in resolving sport-related disputes

Antonio De Quesada, Head of Arbitration Services at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with participants during the seminar in Doha.

Doha: The Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center (QICDRC) hosted a seminar with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to discuss the role of the CAS in resolving disciplinary and commercial disputes directly or indirectly related to sport related, with a focus on disputes arising from events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Antonio De Quesada, Head of Arbitration Services at CAS, and Dr. Zachary Calo, Law Professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University and Senior Counsel at McNair International, were the seminar’s distinguished guest speakers.

On the occasion, Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti, CEO of the Qatar International Court, stated: “This seminar is an opportunity for us to work with a highly respected independent body in the field of sporting disputes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, to discuss dispute resolution procedures and sporting arbitrations, in particular in connection with the forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”.

De Quesada said: “The CAS ad hoc divisions have become a key element for the good organization of various international competitions. For example, the CAS ad hoc divisions have represented at the Olympic Games since 1996 and at the FIFA World Cup since 2006. The CAS ad hoc divisions provide legal certainty and a very quick resolution system for the relevant stakeholders to resolve any disputes that may arise during the games and the competitions, as such disputes are per se very urgent”.

Calo added: “As Qatar prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, this event provided an opportunity to explore the CAS’ crucial role in resolving disputes that arise at mega sporting events.”

The seminar was held as part of the Qatar International Court’s commitment to collaborate with local and international legal experts and experts in its ongoing efforts to promote access to justice and promote a better understanding of arbitration and dispute resolution within the community.

The QICDRC, also known as the Civil and Commercial Court of the Qatar Financial Center (QFC), is part of QFC’s strategy to bring international business and financial services to Qatar. The CAS was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is an institution independent of sports organizations that provides services to facilitate the resolution of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation.