Preparing for Los Angeles 2028 – Sporting greats to take the podium at Annual Sports Bar Conference

3.25 CPD points

On Friday, 6 December, the Sports Law Bar Association will host their Annual Conference in the Distillery Building, Dublin 7.

---

• After the Paris Games 2024, we ask what needs to be done to strengthen Team Ireland’s position with sights set to LA 2028?
• What were the ingredients for success at the Paris Games, and importantly, what did we learn?
• How can sporting bodies best support and respond to the needs of athletes on the path to Olympic success?

This year’s programme will bring together leading Irish and international sports professionals, legal experts and athletes for a compelling discussion about the challenges and triumphs encountered at the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts from athletes about their journeys to qualification, the obstacles they faced and their time in Paris.

The conference will also feature insights from sports professionals on the topic of athlete welfare  when thrust into the spotlight, the contentious issue of social media being a power for good or distraction and how to build sustainable personal brands.

Attendees will hear from a range of Irish athletes and leading voices in sports, including:

• Gavin Noble, Chef de Mission for Team Ireland 2024 and Ireland’s first-ever male Olympic triathlete;
• Tham Nguyen Gough, Ireland’s first and only weightlifting medallist;
• Martin Gordon BL, PLY, Paralympian and barrister who has represented Ireland in two Paralympic games and has won two World Cup silver medals;
• Jack Kelly OLY, two-time Olympian and member of the first Irish 7s team to qualify for the Olympics at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The annual SLBA conference 2024 (online and in-person) is open to all who are interested in sport.

Speakers and Panel Topics to Include:

---

Panel 1 | Fair Sport: Selection and Integrity at Paris 2024

---

Chaired by Gary McCarthy SC, the first panel will open with an exploration of ethical and legal challenges in athlete selection and anti-doping measures, featuring:

Ms. Justice Martina Christina Spreitzer-Kropiunik: Martina is a judge at the Criminal Court in Vienna, Austria and member of the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) working as part of the CAS delegation at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Paddy Murphy, Solicitor – Ogier: Paddy is a Managing Associate leading the Ogier sports practice in Ireland and acts for clients in sports hearings, including in disputes before the GAA Dispute Resolution Authority and in Olympic nomination/selection disputes.

Sarah Keane, CEO, Swim Ireland: Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland and who has played a pivotal role in the development of Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, and Aquatic Disciplines in Ireland. 

---

Panel 2 | Highs and Hurdles: Navigating Challenges at Paris 2024

---

The second panel will be chaired by Rebecca Lacy BL, a member of the SLBA, and will explore various challenges of the 2024 Olympic games alongside:

Yvonne Nolan, General Counsel – World Rugby: Yvonne is a previous rugby player for Leinster and Ireland who represented her country in Six Nations tournaments and two Rugby World Cups.

Martin Gordon BL, PLY: Martin is a Paralympian cyclist and barrister by profession who has represented Ireland in two Paralympic games and has won two World Cup silver Medals. He has represented Ireland at the past seven Track Cycling World Championships and many other international races over five continents.

Gavin Noble, Paris Games 2024 Chef de Mission, Team Ireland: As an Olympian, Gavin made history as Ireland’s first-ever male triathlete at the London 2012 Games. Gavin served as Chef de Mission for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking the country’s most successful Games to date.

---

Panel 3 | Chasing Dreams: The Athlete’s Journey to the Olympic Games

---

The third and final panel will be chaired by Secretary of the SLBA Emma Davey BL and will hear the first-hand account of Irish athletes and their journey to the Olympic Games:

Derry McVeigh, Co-Founder, Silverhatch Sports: Derry’s lifelong passion for sport resulted in him co-founding Silverhatch Sports in 2008 which currently represents some of the best talented sportspeople Ireland has produced including Daniel Wiffin, swimming Olympic Gold & Bronze Medalist, and current Double World & European Champion.

Tham Nguyen Gough, Olympic Weightlifter: Ireland’s first and only female weightlifting medallist, Tham Nguyen Gough Tham Nguyen Gough made history with two back-to-back podium finishes.Immigrating to Ireland at a young age, Tham has excelled as an athlete, entrepreneur, and mother.

Jack Kelly OLY: Jack Kelly is a two-time Irish Olympian and trainee solicitor in McCann FitzGerald LLP, qualifying in January 2026. Jack is a former professional rugby player, having represented Ireland Under 20s, Leinster Rugby and the Irish Rugby 7s Team. He was a member of the first Irish 7s team to qualify for the Olympics at the Tokyo 2020 Games and represented Ireland at the 2024 Olympic games in Paris.

The Hon. Mr. Justice David Barniville, President of the High Court: The Hon. Mr. Justice Barniville will close the conference with reflections on the inspiring contributions from the speakers and insights shared on the intersection of law, ethics, and Olympic spirit.

---

Secretary of The Sports Law Bar Association Emma Davey BL commented on the upcoming conference,

---

About Us