Practice of using sports to improve a tarnished reputation
F1 in Bahrain is an example of sportswashing.[1][2]
Sportswashing is a term used to describe the practice of nations, individuals, groups, corporations, or governments using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing. A form of propaganda, sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing, or sponsoring sporting teams, or participating in a sport.[3]
At the international level, it is believed that sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from poor human rights records and corruption scandals.[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 of reputation laundering.
Overview
[edit]
President Vladimir Putin holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy at a pre-tournament ceremony in Moscow on 9 September 2017
Internationally, sportswashing has been described as part of a country's soft power.[5][6][7][8] The first usage of the term "sportswashing" may have been applied to Azerbaijan and its hosting of the 2015 European Games in 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 sporting boycotts and 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] The 2018 FIFA World Cup held 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 have also been accused of sportswashing include Ineos' sponsorship of professional cycling's Team Sky (now the Ineos Grenadiers) in 2019,[16] and Arabtec's sponsorship of Manchester 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 the 2022 FIFA World Cup the host country Qatar, 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 that Saudi Arabia alone has spent at least $1.5 billion on its own alleged sportswashing activities.[19][20]
Hosting
[edit]
Basketball
[edit]
Philippine President Bongbong Marcos in a courtesy call with members of the FIBA Central Board on 28 April 2023 the day before the Drawing Ceremony.
The 1978 FIBA World Championship, held in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos.[21]
The 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, held in Venezuela.[22]
The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, held partially in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos' son Bongbong.[23]
The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, held in Qatar[24]
NBA hosting pre-season games in UAE since 2022.[25]
Boxing
[edit]
The 1973 light heavyweight boxing match between South African Pierre Fourie and American Bob Foster, held in Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa during the apartheid era.[26]
The 1974 undisputed world heavyweight title match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, known as The Rumble in the Jungle, held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) during the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko.[27]
The 1975 world heavyweight title trilogy match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, known as Thrilla in Manila, held in Quezon City, Philippines during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.[27]
The 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Qatar.[28]
The 2019 world heavyweight title rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua, known as Clash on The Dunes, held in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.[27][29]
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup; Saudi Arabia tried to be the sponsor, but after a series of outrage, it pulled out.[64]
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar (originally to have been held in China)[65]
The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup held in Saudi Arabia[66]
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia[67]
The 2034 FIFA World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia[68][69][70]
Esports
[edit]
The 2019 BLAST Pro Series Finals held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.[71]
Danish esports organization, RFRSH Entertainment and Riot Games both signing a deal to develop Saudi Arabia's NEOM project and boost esports in the region.[72] Riot ended up scrapping the partnership after facing intense backlash from fans and their employees.[73][74]
The 2022 and 2023 Blast Premier World Finals held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[75]
The Gamers8 2023 CS:GO tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Esports World Cup tournament series that replaced it in 2024.
Aramco Saudi Ladies International held since 2020.[77]
LIV Golf Invitational Series funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, beginning in 2022.[78][79]
Motorsport
[edit]
Formula One
[edit]
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates Lewis Hamilton, the winner of 2014 Russian Grand PrixAzerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev awarding the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix trophy to race winner Valtteri Bottas
Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and Swedish Prince Gustav Adolf at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, GermanyFireworks over Fisht Olympic Stadium following the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The 1936 Winter Olympics held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Nazi Germany.[citation needed]
The 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Nazi Germany.[citation needed]
The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.[96][97]
The 1988 Summer Olympics held in military-led Seoul, South Korea.[98][99]
The 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China.[100]
The 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia.[101][102]
The 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[103]
The 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China.[100][104][105]
Rugby Union
[edit]
Police officers guarding a barbed wire perimeter around Eden Park near Kingsland railway station in New Zealand during 1981 South African rugby tour.
Rugby Union tours involving South Africa during the Apartheid era:[83]
The 1949, 1960, 1970, 1976 New Zealand tours to South Africa
The 1951–1952, 1960–1961, 1965, 1969–1970 South African tours to Britain and Ireland
The 1952, 1961, 1968, 1974 South Africa tours to France
The 1953, 1961, 1963, 1969 Australia tours to South Africa
The 1955, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1980 British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa
The 1956, 1965, 1971 South Africa tours to Australia
The 1956, 1965, 1981 South Africa tours to New Zealand
The 1958, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980 France tours to South Africa
The 1960 Scotland tour to South Africa
The 1964 Wales tour to South Africa
The 1965, 1971 Argentina tours to South Africa both with tests against the South African Gazelles
The 1972, 1984 England tours to South Africa
The 1973 Italy tour to South Africa
The 1980 South African tour to South America
The 1980, 1982 and 1984 South American Jaguars tours to South Africa
The 1981 Ireland tour to South Africa
The unofficial 1986 New Zealand tour to South Africa
Tennis
[edit]
South Africa Open during the apartheid period (1948–1994).[26]
1972 Federation Cup held in apartheid South Africa.[26]
1974 Davis Cup held in apartheid South Africa.[26]
Next Generation ATP Finals, being held in Saudi Arabia between 2023 and 2027.[108]
Professional wrestling
[edit]
Collision in Korea held in Pyongyang, North Korea in 1995.[109] A second event, in a smaller building, was promoted by Antonio Inoki (who promoted the first event as well) over two days in 2014.[110]
WWE in Saudi Arabia from 2014; in particular, Saudi Arabia hosting two Premium Live Events each year (one under the name of WWE Crown Jewel) since 2018.[111]
Other events
[edit]
Paramount leader of China Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of 2019 Military World Games in Wuhan, China
Some of UFC matches are held in China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.[112]
Proposed NFL games in China, including the China Bowl.[113]
The 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland.[114]
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in The Philippines.[119]
The 2021 Summer World University Games held in China after a 2-year delay from its original dates.[42]
The World Chess Championship 2021 held in the United Arab Emirates.[120]
The 2022 Gay Games held in Hong Kong after a year delay from its original dates.[121][122]
The 2022 World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest.[123]
The 2022 Asian Games held in China after a year delay from its original dates.[42]
The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games held in El Salvador.[124]
The 2024 World Masters of Snooker tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia.[125]
The 2030 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Qatar.[126]
The 2034 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia.[126]
Corporate sponsorship
[edit]
Association football
[edit]
Russian state-owned oil company Gazprom's sponsorship of the German Bundesliga football team Schalke 04, events of the UEFA Champions League and kits. This contract was cancelled due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[127][128][129]
Russian holding company USM Holdings Limited's sponsorship of Everton. The company is owned by Alisher Usmanov, a pro-Kremlin businessman.[130]
Luis Suárez wearing FC Barcelona jersey bearing Qatar Airways logo as sponsor
Russian flag carrier Aeroflot's sponsorship of Manchester United. The sponsorship was ended following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[131]
Qatar Airways' sponsorships of football teams, including FC Barcelona, A.S. Roma, Boca Juniors, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich.[132]
Qatar's Hamad International Airport's sponsorship of Bayern Munich from 2018 to 2023.[133][134][135]
Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air's sponsorships of Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.[83]
The Azerbaijan tourism authority's sponsorship of Atlético Madrid.[136]
Hong Kong-based insurance company AIA Group sponsorship of English football club Tottenham Hotspur. AIA Group endorsed the Hong Kong national security law in 2020, which was condemned by several British politicians who demanded the club to drop the sponsorship.[137]
The Rwanda tourism authority's sponsorship of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.[22]
The Saudi Tourism Authority's sponsorship of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup under the Visit Saudi branding.
Australian rules football
[edit]
Brunei's flag carrier Royal Brunei Airlines' sponsorship deal with AFL Europe in 2014. The sponsorship deal ended the same year after protests from rights groups.[138][139]
Cycling
[edit]
Shell oil company's major partnership with British Cycling in 2022.[140]
Golf
[edit]
The Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund sponsored the LIV Golf in 2021. Human rights organizations criticized Saudi Arabia for sportwashing its image through the tournament. Human Rights Watch also 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.[141]
Motorsport
[edit]
Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA's sponsorship of Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado, who raced for Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 2011–2013 and Lotus F1 in 2014–2015. The PDVSA logo was included on both teams' car decals during those periods.[142]
Citgo, oil company owned by Venezuelan PDVSA sponsorship of numerous NASCAR teams such as Wood Brothers Racing and Roush Racing. Citgo also sponsored individual drivers such as Milka Duno who raced in 24 Hours of Daytona and E. J. Viso who raced in IndyCar Series[143][144]
Chinese state-owned broadcaster CCTV's sponsorship of Jordan Grand Prix Formula One team in 2003.[145]
Saudi Arabia State-owned oil company Aramco's sponsorship of the Aston Martin F1 Team, as well as Formula One races.[146][147][93]
Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia's sponsorship of Formula One teams Williams Grand Prix Engineering from 1977 to 1984 and Aston Martin in 2023.[148]
The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund-backed Neom sponsorship of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team and McLaren's Formula E and Extreme E teams.[149][150]
The Formula One team Haas F1 Team was sponsored by Uralkali, who also sponsors Haas' Russian driver Nikita Mazepin. Haas had severed ties with Uralkali and Mazepin due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[151]
Ownership
[edit]
Association football
[edit]
Domestic teams:
Italian media proprietor Silvio Berlusconi, through his Fininvest holding, owned Serie A club A.C. Milan in 1986 and had 98% of the club's share until 2017. Berlusconi gained popularity in the country using his team's success, strongly supported by his own mass media including Mediaset, to improve public opinion,[152] which was useful for his political purposes.[153] Berlusconi founded Forza Italia, a centre-right party, and in 1994 became Prime Minister of Italy. During more than two decades of government divided into four periods, he was involved in abuse of office, bribery, corruption of public personnel, and false accounting cases, as well as sex scandals,[153] among other controversies surrounding Berlusconi. He proposed and approved many ad personam laws (a type of clientelism) in favour of his own business, including the Milanese club as the Lentini affair in 1995, the Decreto Salva Calcio in 2003,[154][155] which allowed Milan to be relieved its debt of € 242 million,[156][157] and the decriminalisation of false accounting during the second Berlusconi government, a charge for which his club and local rival FC Internazionale Milano were tried and acquitted five years later due that measure;[156][158] obtaining political support from the Milan fanbase, one of the largest in the country.[159] In 2018, after he sold Milan to Chinese businessman Li Yonghong, Berlusconi, through Fininvest,[clarification needed] owned AC Monza, a club that then competed in the national Serie C, with 100% of the club's shares.[clarification needed]
Foreign ownership:
Russian politician and businessman Roman Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea F.C. (2003–2022), which some have reported was done at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.[160]
Russian pro-Kremlin businessman Alisher Usmanov formally owned partial shares of Arsenal F.C.[130][161] Umanov never had control of the club's day-to-day operation.[citation needed]
Abu Dhabi majority ownership of City Football Group. In 2015, the Abu Dhabi United Group announced consortium with Chinese state-owned CITIC Group for City Football Group, an entity which in turn owns[162]
Manchester City F.C. (since 2008)
Melbourne City FC
Montevideo City Torque
New York City FC,
Yokohama F. Marinos (partially),
Girona FC,
Shenzhen Peng City F.C. (partially).
Mumbai City FC (partially).
Saudi prince Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud ownership of Sheffield United.[163]
Newcastle United fans celebrating the completed takeover of the team outside St James' Park on 7 October 2021
The purchase of Newcastle United F.C., 80% financing provided by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund; this was "a blatant example of Saudi sportswashing", according to Kate Allen of Amnesty International UK.[164]
Kingdom of Bahrain 20% stake purchase of French football club Paris FC. The purchase was condemned by French-based human rights NGOs.[165]
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ruler of Qatar, purchasing French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2011.[166]
Controversial Indonesian conglomerate Bakrie Group ownership of Australian football club Brisbane Roar FC. In 2019, formed team administrator Joko Driyono was arrested by the Indonesian national police for destroying the evidence of match-fixing scandal.[167]
Washington Spirit's 2020 cultural exchange with Qatar.[168]
Basketball
[edit]
Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov ownership of NBA team Brooklyn 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.[169] The team was later bought by Hong Kong businessman Joe Tsai. Tsai was previously criticized for his praise of China's restrictions on personal freedoms and expressing his support of Hong Kong national security law.[170]
Cricket
[edit]
Indian fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya ownership of cricket team Royal Challengers Bangalore who competed in Indian Premier League. Indian Enforcement Directorate accused Mallya ownership of the team to be part of Mallya's money laundering scheme.[171]
The South Africa national cricket team held numerous tours dubbed as South African rebel tours around 1982–1990, defying sporting bodies' sanctions of numerous South African sport teams for participating in international sporting events. The tours have been regarded as part of the apartheid government's sporting propaganda.[172][173]
Cycling
[edit]
There are numerous reports that 2020 Tour de France was used by problematic countries and companies to sportswash their tarnished reputation; the following teams have been accused of sportswashing during the event:[174]
Ineos Grenadiers
UAE Team Emirates
Bahrain–McLaren
Motorsport
[edit]
Indian fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's ownership of the Force India Formula One team. Mallya's Force India team were accused by the Indian Enforcement Directorate that it was created for money laundering purposes.[171]
Kingdom of Bahrain state-owned sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat Holding Company, partial stake at McLaren Group which includes its racing division, McLaren Racing, which competes in Formula One, Formula E, Extreme E and IndyCar Series.[175]
Other
[edit]
The Al Maktoum family's ownership of Godolphin and Essential Quality.[176]
The takeover of esports organizations ESL and FACEIT by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.[177]
By individuals
[edit]
Daniel Kinahan's involvement in boxing as a promoter.[178]
Brother of Venezuelan PSUV politician and Bolibourgeoisie Jesse Chacón, Arné Chacón ownership of stable in Florida called Gadu Racing Stable Corp and participation of horse racing in United States.[179]
Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov ownership of horse Mourilyan which competed in Melbourne Cup horse racing. The participation has gained controversy in Australia. Australian Senator Bob Brown called the Australian government to quarantine the prize money as concern of money laundering.[180] and having runners in various meetings in the UK especially Royal Ascot
International Cycling Union presenting a certificate of appreciation to Turkmen dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow for "in development of sport and consolidation of universal peace and progress".[181]
By nations
[edit]
Protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Prague against the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The banner reads, "Artificial snow, real genocide".
Kazakhstan has joined UEFA since 2002 and has also sponsored numerous sporting events in recent years.[182][183] 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.[184][185][186] Additionally, FC Astana, a football project launched by the autocratic government of Nursultan Nazarbayev to gain foothold in Europe and justify its membership switch, was also seen as sportswashing.[187]
Myanmar has been recently allowed to host the 2022 AFF Championship and their clubs allowed to play home games in the 2023–24 AFC Cup despite grave human rights concerns in the aftermath of the Myanmar protests and massacres by the Tatmadaw on unarmed protesters.[188][189] Additionally, the AFC is also accused of sportswashing in support for the Tatmadaw, by denying the request of the Australian club Macarthur FC to play their away match against Burmese opponent Shan United F.C. in a neutral ground.[189]
Israel competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024.[190] Prior to the games, Palestinian sports organizations and sports organizations from Arab countries called for sanctions to be imposed against Israel for its war crimes against Palestinians and to prevent its participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics due to the Israel–Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.[191]
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