Conference : Governance of Sports Organisations by Pierre Cornu (President of CIES- Foundation Council)

Date : Saturday 24 February 2024
Time : 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Venue : Robert de Sorbon Amphitheatre, SUAD Campus

Abstract
Governance is about how institutions conduct their affairs and manage their resources.Effective governance is essential for the success of sports governing bodies, including international, regional, and national federations, international and national Olympic committees, and clubs. These organizations must prioritize the needs of the sport, athletes, officials, partners (such as sponsors), and the public (including fans), rather than the interests of select groups.
Sports governing bodies operate in a complex environment and are subject to scrutiny from various stakeholders, including the media, NGOs, sponsors, governments, and law enforcement agencies. It is crucial for them not only to perform their duties effectively but also to be perceived as doing so.This conference will explore how sports organizations can achieve success both on and off the field by adhering to established rules and principles and adapting to current challenges.

 
About the Speaker

Mr.Pierre Cornu was born in 1960 and obtained his master’s degree in law from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 1983. After gaining experience in a law firm, he took the bar exam and worked as an attorney before becoming an investigating judge in 1987. In 1997, he was elected as the general prosecutor of the canton of Neuchâtel and later served as the president of the Swiss Association of Prosecutors. In 2011, he joined UEFA as chief counsel, integrity and regulatory affairs. During this time, he was responsible for managing UEFA’s disciplinary bodies and developing programs to combat competition manipulation. In August 2012, he returned to Neuchâtel to join CIES, where he focused on governance and integrity issues. In 2015, he returned to the justice system and is currently a judge at the Court of Appeals in Neuchâtel.

Pierre has served as the chairman for various sports committees and associations. He chaired the disciplinary and control committee of the Swiss Football Association from 1993 to 2009, followed by the same association’s appeals body from 2009 to 2011. In addition, he chaired the appeals body of the Neuchâtel region’s football association from 1998 to 2018. Pierre also served as the chairman of the International Boxing Association’s disciplinary committee from 2008 to 2011, and he has been a member of this committee since 2013. Currently, he serves as the chairman of the CIES Board, a position he has held since 2016.
Pierre has been involved as an expert in Council of Europe projects since 1997. These projects include judges’ and prosecutors’ ethics, assessment of justice systems in various Eastern European countries, and communication. He is also the co-author of three Council of Europe manuals, namely, Communication of Judicial Bodies with the Media and the Public, Disciplinary and Arbitration Procedures of the Sport Movement, and Human Rights Protection in Europe in the Context of Sports Organisations’ Disciplinary and Arbitration Procedures.

 

Kindly note that this event will be photographed and videographed

Please fill-in the registration form below to confirm your participation on campus

Bookings are closed for this event.