I am very pleased to welcome this book by Ian Blackshaw, a widely experienced and recognised International Sports Lawyer, on the extra-judicial settlement of sports disputes through mediation. This process is proving to be an effective alternative form of settling disputes in general and those related to sport in particular. Its growing importance in the sporting arena has been recognised and reflected by the introduction in 1999 of a Mediation Service by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. As the author points out, mediation can be used successfully in a wide range of sports disputes, including an increasing number of commercial and financial ones. Butitseffectivenessdependsonthewillingnessofthepartiesindisputetocomp- mise and reach creative and amicable solutions in their own interests and also those of sport. Thisbookwill, Iamsure, quicklyestablishitselfandprovetobeausefultoolforall those wishing to learn about and take full advantage of this modern, flexible and effective way of resolving sports disputes, at the national and international levels, as sport continues to develop and expand globally.