An introduction to insurance policies, risk transfer and the law for modern sports organisations

The importance of risk analysis and risk transfer to support business strategy cannot be overstated.  Businesses in the sports sector are no different from other industry sectors in this regard.  However, because the sector receives a greater degree of media attention, events and issues are magnified, which raises the importance of good planning when it comes to risk mitigation and risk transfer, as well as public relations management. 

This article explains the importance of insurance in risk management to sports organisations; the most relevant types of cover for the business (as opposed to players and athletes); and the recent shifts in English law to a more policyholder-friendly approach, which makes English law one of the most attractive law to govern insurance policies:

• The importance of insurance to the business of sport
• The main types of insurance for sports organisations
  • Property damage and business interruption
  • Liability policies
  • Contingency insurance
• Claims process/conditions
• Developments in English law: a more policyholder-friendly approach
• Key points to remember

This article is intended to be a high-level overview and the start of a series of articles focussing on particular types of insurance policies, looking at the specific issues for policyholders and insurance brokers to consider.