Sports and law. Jakub Szabunia received an award for his master’s thesis
Jakub Szabunia’s master’s thesis entitled “Podmiotowość prawnomiędzynarodowa sportowych organizacji pozarządowych,” written under the supervision of prof. Barbara Mielnik of the Department of International and European Lawat the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics of the University of Wrocław was awarded in the 10th “Olympic Logos” Competition. Congratulations!
Sport is an important part of almost everyone’s daily life, and as it turns out, at the amateur or professional level, the practice of almost all sports is directly affected by regulations adopted by specific sports associations.
Awarded in the “Olympic Logos 2024” competition organized by the Polish Olympic Academy, the work aims to provide insight into issues related to the international legal subjectivity of international sports organizations. This issue is very relevant to the development of modern international law, as it helps to understand the role currently played by sports organizations at both the international and national levels. After all, everyone has heard of the International Olympic Committee or FIFA or UEFA, but we are not fully aware of the real role that sports organizations play in shaping international sports law.
Their participation in the creation of norms related to sports rules permeates from the international level to national law and affects every athlete. Recognizing the role of international sports organizations in contemporary international cooperation, mgr Jakub Szabunia, presented an analysis of the legal status of these organizations.
In his study, the author refers to the theory of subjectivity of non-governmental organizations, noting that despite the significant influence of states on the financing and development of various sports at the national level, sports organizations, which are federations of national associations, constitute a private association. Their independence is emphasized in many dimensions, and the state, at least officially, cannot interfere with their independence. It should be emphasized that, compared to other NGOs, they are distinguished by their very broad powers to adopt regulations directly applicable to domestic law. This includes, for example, the issue of doping, the disqualification of the athlete, as well as the age or weight of the athlete and the admission of the athlete to competitions.
The award-winning work consists of three parts, in which the author points out the manifestations of the subjectivity of international sports organizations.
He began his deliberations by introducing the theory of international subjectivity, transferring it to non-governmental organizations as such and classifying sports organizations as special entities with significant powers to act internationally. A special place in the consideration was given to the IOC, as a unique entity of international law upholding the Olympic ideals, taking part in shaping the rules for the organization of the Olympic Games and cooperating with other sports federations.
The last part of the work is already devoted to introducing the activities of selected sports organizations and their influence on the creation of international and national standards. Mr. Jakub Szabunia rightly recognizes that these entities have a rather over-established organizational structure that brings together members from all over the world (usually individuals selected by national organizations), and within their own authority they adopt rules for the practice of a particular discipline.
The thesis is supervised by prof. Barbara Mielnik, from the Department of International and European Law, at the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics of the University of Wrocław.
The competition has been held since 2003. For more than two decades, it has produced a number of scholars who have undertaken studies in architecture, law, sociology, history, Olympic marketing and other fields. The contest includes works in the field of Olympic education and Olympism.
The winners were ceremonially awarded at the Olympic Center of the Polish Olympic Committee in Warsaw, 6 December 2024 – more: https://olimpijski.pl/x-konkurs-logos-olimpijski-2024-rozstrzygniety/
Complied by kg
Date of publication: 30.12.2024
Added by: M.J.
