MLC710 Sport and the Law Assessment
Overview of this assessment
This is an elective group assessment. You are expected to form your own groups (NO MORE THAN THREE), and submit your group’s final response individually to your dropbox on CD, but with each member’s name and student number on the front sheet. It has been decided that students may elect to do this assessment individually, especially as Cloud students are not able to easily form groups to complete the assessment. If completed as a group, the same mark and grade will apply across group members.
You do not need to apply for approval of groups. If you are unable to form a group then it is expected that you submit your assessment individually.
Students who wish to do the assignment as a group may introduce themselves in a new forum added for assessment two in the discussions board on the unit site. You can then arrange meeting times on BbCollaborate (you may use any of the BbCollaborate rooms, but just be sure there are no sessions running at the time) to meet and discuss their strategy. You may of course also exchange emails and personal numbers if you wish. This is a unique opportunity for Cloud students to interact with their fellow unit classmates.
Your task is to critically analyse/evaluate and reflect on legal and ethical issues that were discussed in Sport and the Law from Topics 3 to 6. There are ongoing themes that present throughout the course of the unit, for example the reluctance of the courts to intervene in the governance of sport, and the commercialisation and commodification of sport. These ongoing themes should also be considered for this assessment, where relevant. This assessment is a research task that will require you to do independent and/or group research. The materials you should refer to when preparing your answer include the textbook, books, journal articles, and other academic resources and materials that will support your argument.
This is not a legal analysis type task (ULO 2), as there is no hypothetical problem to analyse; however, you may choose to discuss cases and statute to support any assertions in your response.
The word count for this assessment task is 1500 words in total. You may be penalised if you are beyond the leeway. In other words, please keep your word count between 1400-1600 words.
Please ensure that you read all of the instructions contained in this document.
Essay Question
‘A boxer can win a fight one of three ways. First is winning by points. The one who lands most punches in a match wins points awarded by judges. The second way is winning by “technical knockout” (T.K.O.). If one batters their opponent until that opponent cannot continue a T.K.O. is awarded. Third is winning by “knockout”. This is awarded when one boxer knocks his opponent to the mat, causing the opponent to remain down for at least ten seconds. When boxers enter the ring, they are aware they will sustain physical trauma. In other words, in stepping into the ring, boxers are considered to have consented to the risks and hazards of the sport, expressly or impliedly. This enables physical contact that would be unlawful in nearly any other circumstances as a necessary part of the sport’. Jangsub Kim.
[place-order-2]
Critically analyse/evaluate and reflect on this passage, addressing the following sub-questions:
- Why is it that such sporting activities (boxing and combat sports like MMA) are tolerated in society and do you agree with their practise and promotion? Why? Why not?
- How can the laws relating to violence and civil liability in Australia be reconciled with sports like boxing and MMA?
- Who should be liable in the event that a fighter suffers career ending injury, death, or neurodegenerative disease due to participation in combat sports?
Word count: Maximum 1600 words
(30 marks)