Sport & Governance – Annual Review 2024/25

Welcome to the Governance chapter of the LawInSport Annual Review 2024/25.

2024 was, of course, an Olympic and Paralympic year. The equivalent in sports governance terms of an Olympiad is the regular publication by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations of its Governance Review. The fifth iteration was published in June 2024 (ASOIF Governance Review^[1]), and it assessed governance standards at all 32 (30 full members and two associate members) ASOIF-affiliated international federations (IFs). This review begins by summarising the findings and then focuses on one of the IFs involved (World Sailing), which undertook significant governance reforms in 2024 including maximum terms of office, gender parity policies and strategic reforms.

At the end of 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published the manifestos of the seven candidates to succeed Thomas Bach as president.  The review will then examine some of the potential governance reforms and initiatives therein, including reference to the impact the IOC thinks that artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the future administration of sport.  Continuing the Olympic theme; in 2024, India announced itself as a potential candidate to host a Summer Olympics in 2036, though continuing maladministration in domestic sports bodies, and an immaturity in sports governance standards in that country, may hinder its bid.

Finally, the review will cover two football related matters – the establishment of an independent football regulator in English men’s elite football; and the award by FIFA to Saudi Arabia of the hosting rights to the World Cup 2034. The latter, and what is says about the future governance of global sport – in terms of sovereign wealth fund investments and human rights commitments – will form the basis of the conclusion:

• ASOIF Governance Review
  • Purpose and objectives
  • Evaluation principles
  • Key findings
  • World Sailing’s governance reform programme
• Developments at the IOC
  • Presidential election manifestos
  • Artificial intelligence
  • India’s bid for 2036
• Football
  • The UK’s Football Governance Bill
  • Award of 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia
• Comment and looking ahead