ADR in Sport Disputes: Should Mediation be Used over Arbitration?

In our days, sport is a big business, with huge sums of money involved. With various types of emotions and the huge budgets involved, conflict is a daily reality of sports organizations. The present article started from the idea that arbitration-the most commonly used procedure in dealing with sports disputes - doesnot represent a viable solution any more, and that mediation could succeed where arbitration has failed. The article will present the reasons behind this statement by describing the procedure and the high number of national and international institutions with arbitrational responsibilities. Based on 40 interviews with athletes and staff, and from my own professional and academic experience as mediator, the article presents the main benefits of mediation that can be used in sports disputes.