Sportswashingis a term used to describe the practice of nations, individuals, groups, corporations, or the government using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing. A form ofpropaganda,sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing orsponsoringsporting teams, or participating in a sport.[3]

F1inBahrainis an example of sportswashing.[1][2]

At theinternational level,it is believed that sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from poorhuman rightsrecords andcorruptionscandals.[4]At the individual and corporate levels, it is believed that sportswashing has been used to cover up vices, crimes, and scandals. Sportswashing is an example ofreputation laundering.

Overview

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PresidentVladimir Putinholding theFIFA World Cup Trophyat a pre-tournament ceremony in Moscow on 9 September 2017

Internationally, sportswashing has been described as part of a country'ssoft power.[5][6][7][8]The first usage of the term "sportswashing" may have been applied to Azerbaijan and its hosting of the2015 European Gamesin Baku.[9]

Officials and organizations accused of sportswashing[which?]:in recent years Gulf states have been the most vocal to push back against these claims, often arguing that they simply want to enjoy sporting events in their home countries, or to engage in new investments.[10][11]These accused parties often say that sportingboycottsand event relocation are both unfair to sporting fans and are ineffective in changing government policy. In the case of F1, the league has even argued that "the sport is better able to effect change by visiting these countries and holding them to commitments they have made that are legally binding."[12][unreliable source?][13][14]The2018 FIFA World Cupheld in Russia has been cited as an example to tackle the country's global reputation, which was low due to its foreign policy and the sporting event changed the focus of discussions to the success of the World Cup.[15]

Companies accused of sportswashing includeIneos's sponsorship of professional cycling's Team Sky (now theIneos Grenadiers) in 2019,[16]andArabtec's sponsorship ofManchester City F.C.[17]

A key characteristic of sportswashing is the very costly efforts parties must undertake as it is not just about getting the rights to an event but building the infrastructure to hold these games. For example, leading up to the2022 FIFA World Cupthe host countryQatar,the smallest country to ever host the World Cup, invested around $220 billion into luxury accommodations, expanded transport networks, and stadiums to prepare.[18]In March 2021, human rights organization Grant Liberty said thatSaudi Arabiaalone has spent at least $1.5 billion on its own alleged sportswashing activities.[19][20]

Hosting

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Basketball

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Philippine PresidentBongbong Marcosin a courtesy call with members of the FIBA Central Board on 28 April 2023 the day before the Drawing Ceremony.

Combat sports

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Boxing

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Mixed martial arts

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The following were held in Saudi Arabia in 2024.

Cycling

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Cricket

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Association football tournaments

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Russiahanding over the symbolic relay baton for the hosting rights of the2022 FIFA World CuptoQatarin June 2018
Chelseaplaying againstArsenalatBaku Olympic Stadiumduring theUEFA Europa League Finalon 29 May 2019

Esports

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Golf

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Motorsport

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Formula One

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Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulatesLewis Hamilton,the winner of2014 Russian Grand Prix
Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyevawarding the2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prixtrophy to race winnerValtteri Bottas

Formula E

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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Rally

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Touring car racing

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Olympic Games

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Adolf Hitler,Hermann Göringand Swedish PrinceGustav Adolfat the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany
FireworksoverFisht Olympic Stadiumfollowing the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the2014 Winter Olympics.

Rugby Union

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Police officers guarding a barbed wire perimeter aroundEden ParknearKingsland railway stationin New Zealand during1981 South African rugby tour.

Rugby Union tours involving South Africa during the Apartheid era:[92]

Tennis

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Professional wrestling

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Other events

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Paramount leaderof ChinaXi Jinpingattends the opening ceremony of2019 Military World GamesinWuhan,China

Corporate sponsorship

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Association football

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Luis SuárezwearingFC Barcelonajersey bearingQatar Airwayslogo as sponsor

Australian rules football

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Cycling

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Golf

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  • The Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund,Public Investment Fundsponsored theLIV Golfin 2021. Human rights organizations criticizedSaudi Arabiafor sportwashing its image through the tournament.Human Rights Watchalso wrote a letter to LIV Golf urging the league to adopt a strategy that would minimize the risk of reputation laundering by the Saudi Arabian government.[152]

Motorsport

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Ownership

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Association football

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Domestic teams:

Foreign ownership:

Newcastle Unitedfans celebrating the completed takeover of the team outsideSt James' Parkon 7 October 2021

Basketball

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  • RussianbusinessmanMikhail Prokhorovownership of NBA teamBrooklyn Nets.Prokhorov was known to be a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2017, Prokhorov sold the team which was alleged to have been a request from Putin.[180]The team was later bought by Hong Kong businessmanJoe Tsai.Tsai was previously criticized for his praise of China's restrictions on personal freedoms and expressing his support ofHong Kong national security law.[181]

Cricket

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Cycling

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Motorsport

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Other

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By individuals

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By nations

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Protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Prague against the2022 Winter Olympicsin Beijing. The banner reads, "Artificial snow,real genocide ".
  • Kazakhstanhas joinedUEFAsince 2002 and has also sponsored numerous sporting events in recent years.[193][194]Kazakhstan has been accused of being an authoritarian dictatorship due to its repression on dissidents and censorship of media, and that their UEFA membership association has also been under criticism as Kazakhstan has shared more commons with the authoritarian AFC than with more democratic UEFA due to the majority of Asian nations being authoritarian as contrast to European ones, which has gained headline after Kazakhstan become the first UEFA member after Belarus to send a national team (U-21) to play Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.[195][196][197]Additionally,FC Astana,a football project launched by the autocratic government ofNursultan Nazarbayevto gain foothold in Europe and justify its membership switch, was also seen as sportswashing.[198]
  • Myanmarhas been recently allowed to host the2022 AFF Championshipand their clubs allowed to play home games in the2023–24 AFC Cupdespite grave human rights concerns in the aftermath of theMyanmar protestsand massacres by theTatmadawon unarmed protesters.[199][200]Additionally, the AFC is also accused of sportswashing in support for the Tatmadaw, by denying the request of the Australian clubMacarthur FCto play their away match against Burmese opponentShan United F.C.in a neutral ground.[200]
  • Israelcompeted at the2024 Summer OlympicsinParisfrom 26 July to 11 August 2024.[201]Prior to the games, Palestinian sports organizations and sports organizations from Arab countries called for sanctions to be imposed against Israel for itswar crimesagainst Palestinians and to prevent its participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics due to theIsrael–Hamas warin theGaza Strip.[202]
  • UAE- In November 2021, the Emirates Culture and Tourism Department signed a multiyear partnership deal with the NBA, granting Abu Dhabi rights to host the preseason NBA games.Human rights groups questioned the deal, stating that the NBA was risking being complicit in the UAE’s concerning human rights record. In February 2024, NBA also signed the multiyear global marketing partnership with the Emirates Airlines, making the airline an inaugural title partner of the NBA Cup. Emirates also became the first-ever referee jersey patch partner of the NBA. The league was questioned over the type of countries it was picking for alliance, including the UAE. The deals between the NBA and the UAE were criticized, citing the Emirates’ involvement in the Sudan civil war and its constant arms supply to the Rapid Support Force militia.Human Rights Watch stated that the UAE conducts high-profile sporting and other events in an attempt to portray an image of openness, while practicing zero-tolerance policy.[203][204][205][206]

See also

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References

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