On 28 December 2019, Llinks partner David Wu was invited to the Opening Ceremony of the Sports Law Research Center of Shanghai University of Sport. Mr. Li Hai (Dean of Economic Administration of the Shanghai University of Sport) hosted the ceremony. Experts and scholars including Mr. Liu Yan (President of Sports Law Research Institute of China Law Society), Mr. Yu Shanxu (Executive Vice President of Sports Law Research Institute of China Law Society), Mr. Yu Shiping (Deputy Director of Law and Policies, Shanghai Administration of Sports), Ms. Zhang Bei (Vice Director of Shanghai Sports Science Institute), Mr. Chen Xiaofeng (Deputy Party Secretary, Vice Chairman of Shanghai University of Sport) as well as other representatives from Shanghai University of Sport and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law were present at the ceremony.
Mr. Xiaofeng Chen first provided a report on the overall progress of studies on sports law in Shanghai in 2019. Mr. Yan Liu expressed his warm congratulations on the establishment of the Research Centre. He also outlined expectation for the Research Centre, hoping that the Research Center would adhere to the route of "remarkable standing, broad horizon, high practicality" by integrating sports with laws to establish national benchmark. Mr. Xuyu Shan further urged to take this opportunity to go hand in hand to optimize the research environment, deepen reforms, and ultimately improve the education system in terms of talent training.
The ceremony entered the discussion stage. Mr. Wu started the discussion with the general principles of the "Development Outline for a Powerful Country in Sports" released by General Office of the State Council. He provide analysis from his experience with local legislations, independent sport associations, third-party dispute resolution mechanisms, global anti-doping trends etc. With the opportunities and challenges present, he called on all colleagues to jointly contribute to sports law governance in Shanghai. Mr. Shiping Yu, from the perspective of government, pointed out future goals in terms of legislation and law enforcement as well as core issues that he expects to solve in conjunction with the Research Centre. Other participating experts and scholars also actively put forward their views and suggestions. The ceremony successfully formed understanding and expectation for the next stage of studies. Finally at the end of the ceremony, Mr. Xiaofeng Chen issued the Letters of Appointment for "Specially-Appointed Researchers" to the Research Centre to the experts and scholars in question.
The establishment of the Sports Law Research Centre at Shanghai University of Sport signifies a new starting point of sports law studies in Shanghai. With greater cohesion, it is expected to combine theories with practices to tackle more challenging issues, making long-term contributions to Chinese sports law under the direction of the newly-issued "Development Outline for a Powerful Country in Sports".
