“Give Me Just a Little More Time”

Olympics v Wimbledon and the Legal Problems arising from the Deferral as Opposed to Cancellation of Sporting Events 

Bianca Balmelli and Nicholas Siddall KC analyse the legal issues arising from the differing responses of sporting events to the Covid-19 pandemic

Sport is a matter of big business. All events spread their web widely into the commercial sphere. Beyond an event’s simple ticket sales a complex matrix of contractual obligations exist such as sponsorship, image rights, TV deals and advertising.

Responses to the pandemic have varied. It is well publicised that the Tokyo Olympics have been deferred for a period of one year. By contrast the All England Championships at Wimbledon have been cancelled for the first time since WW2.

This article examines the legal position of obligations regarding sporting events as a matter of contract and then addresses the extent to which that analysis varies depending on the approach of the event.