The launch ceremony of the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution was held today and the scheme will start accepting case applications at the beginning of the first quarter of 2026.

The scheme aims to provide the sports sector with a fair, efficient and convenient mechanism for resolving sports disputes through mediation and arbitration, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Hong Kong's sports industry and promoting the city as an international centre for sports dispute resolution.

Deputy Secretary for Justice and Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution Chairperson Cheung Kwok-kwan, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law, and Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Liu Chunhua were in attendance.

Over 160 representatives from the sports and legal sectors, including the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong and national sports associations, as well as some current and retired Hong Kong athletes, also joined the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Cheung said that with the vibrant development of the sports industry, sports disputes are an inevitable result of interactions among stakeholders, adding that establishing a dedicated mechanism for resolving sports disputes is an important foundation for advancing the sports industry to new heights.

Mr Cheung reiterated that the scheme provides a fair, efficient, and convenient mechanism for resolving sports disputes through mediation and arbitration, promoting the development of the sports industry through free competition in a fair market.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) will collaborate with the legal and sports sectors to organise various promotional and training activities to further enhance public awareness of sports dispute resolution. Mr Cheung also encouraged professionals from different fields to actively participate in and make further contributions to the development of sports industry and dispute resolution services in Hong Kong.

Miss Law in her speech said that the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau fully supports the DoJ as well as the legal and sports sectors in jointly promoting the pilot scheme, which establishes a neutral, fair, and efficient mechanism to effectively handle various sports-related disputes and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of athletes, coaches, sports organisations and all stakeholders.

She added that the pilot scheme also contributes to creating a healthier and more sustainable development environment, laying a solid foundation for the long-term future of sports in Hong Kong.

The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) will administer the pilot scheme and provide institutional support for the conduct of mediation and arbitration.

Whereas the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (eBRAM) will provide the technological infrastructure and support required for the operation of the pilot scheme, with a view to promoting a wider use of lawtech and online dispute resolution services.

At the launch ceremony, Mr Cheung, on behalf of the DoJ, signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives from the AALCO-HKRAC and the eBRAM.

In the subsequent panel discussions, speakers from the legal and sports sectors, as well as the DoJ, engaged in in-depth discussions on the advantages of mediation and arbitration in resolving sports disputes and introduced the features of the pilot scheme.

The pilot scheme’s operational period will be two years followed by a review. It will adopt a mediation first, arbitration next approach to resolve both commercial and non-commercial sports disputes.

Featuring an online mediation and arbitration platform, the scheme will also expedite procedures to enhance the efficiency of dispute resolution and address urgent disputes that may arise during competition. The Government will provide subsidies for eligible cases.