Before asking who does sportswashing, I'd say we should have a clear definition of sportswashing. Is every instance of a country or city wanting to host a sporting event or buy a sporting brand for self-interested purposes the same - whether it's for boosting tourism, attracting investment, broader national/municipal prestige, aiming for domestic popularity, or trying to combat a negative international perception due to human rights issues? As in 'whitewashing' and 'greenwashing'. 'sportswashing' implies hiding some unsavoury truth. The fact that there can be a variety of other sometimes tawdry reasons for investing in sport doesn't mean all are the same.
As for people of foreign heritage representing a country, that occasionally occurs in a context where sportswashing is a driving force. I'm not keen on hasty naturalisation of footballers in order to make them eligible to represent your country. This tends to be a dynamic that enables richer countries to benefit from the talent of poorer ones (though it also created a pathway for generations of mid-level Brazilians to play at World Cups!). But I'm uncomfortable with suggestions that individuals who migrated as kids and developed as footballers in their new country of residence "aren't really English" or French or whatever. That has uncomfortable echoes of political discourse that we should all steer clear of.
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
comment by Frank van Eijs (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyInPoland (U11181)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 36 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 5 minutes ago
It seems to be only a term used for Middle Eastern countries.
What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting though and one the reasons FFP is a good thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it disgusting? I’m not that well up on the subject so please correct me if I’m wrong, but man takes passive pay day to do job isn’t disgusting it’s a fact of life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not having a go at Rahm at all.
If a company called me today and said you can do less hours for 10 times the pay I’d say snap their hands off regardless of the company was backed by the Saudi regime.
It’s disgusting that an outside entity can come and throw billions at a sport to try and destroy what is already there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't PGA make a dealmwoth LIV and that betrayed the ones that stayed with PGA? Why wouldn't he jump ship now if that was the case?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, not the point I’m making.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it certainly appears you are having a go a Rahm! Otherwise why would you be disgusted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is disgusted that the Saudis are able to do that in sport. Not disgusted at Rahm for accepting
----------------------------------------------------------------------If that was the case instead of writing “What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting” he should’ve written, What happened with the Saudi’s and LIV Golf is disgusting!
No?
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by Frank van Eijs (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyInPoland (U11181)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 36 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 5 minutes ago
It seems to be only a term used for Middle Eastern countries.
What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting though and one the reasons FFP is a good thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it disgusting? I’m not that well up on the subject so please correct me if I’m wrong, but man takes passive pay day to do job isn’t disgusting it’s a fact of life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not having a go at Rahm at all.
If a company called me today and said you can do less hours for 10 times the pay I’d say snap their hands off regardless of the company was backed by the Saudi regime.
It’s disgusting that an outside entity can come and throw billions at a sport to try and destroy what is already there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't PGA make a dealmwoth LIV and that betrayed the ones that stayed with PGA? Why wouldn't he jump ship now if that was the case?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, not the point I’m making.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it certainly appears you are having a go a Rahm! Otherwise why would you be disgusted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is disgusted that the Saudis are able to do that in sport. Not disgusted at Rahm for accepting
----------------------------------------------------------------------If that was the case instead of writing “What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting” he should’ve written, What happened with the Saudi’s and LIV Golf is disgusting!
No?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes agreed but the Rahm deal has been the biggest yet.
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
"due to all of that beheading stuff"
Never looks good in a glossy Advertising pamphlet does it...
The Process
Yes it’s a huge deal alright!
He can come out with all the reasons why he’s now signed up to LIV the money has to be the defining factor, the lad has a young family and at present with the way LIV is setup may probably work better for them.
The other thing which has been touched on is the fact the PGA and DP tours have also done a deal with LIV, which is more concerning than Rahm going LIV, it’s a slap in the face for the guys that stood by the two tours!
One concern is from a football point of view, at present there’s no plans for the Saudi Pro League to be allowed into the Champions League, will that change or is there a bigger picture of some sort of competition with another attempt to form a European Super League and then involving the Saudi’s and whoever else!
Tjeir is a ufficiale FIFA 32 team club world cup in summer 2025
Eggspecked that will kick start the beginnin of the end
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by >π²Baz tardπ¦+βοΈ=? (U19119)
posted 9 seconds ago
Take athletics, for example, where virtually every Western nation extends passports to African athletes to run under their flag
—
France and England wouldn’t be the sides they are without this
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which England players were born outside of England/don't have some sort of English heritage? Genuine question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sterling?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomori
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One was Jamaica and one was Canadian. Any Africans?
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would I want a medal? Are you ret@rded?
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
It doesn’t matter anyway as the Qataris have been told rightfully to fack off. Good riddance
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would I want a medal? Are you ret@rded?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You sound like you are trying to get credit for something...
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
These countries are playing a long game, imo.
Public perception changes slowly and gradually over the years. People's opinions aren't always as immovable as they appear. Just look at how far right ideologies have slowly been gaining ground around the world in recent years.
Qatar have been organising international events for decades now, gradually aiming higher and higher. It might not sway your opinion, but generations of kids won't have such strong preconceived opinions.
Today's kids will soon be major earners, consumers and decision-makers. Millions upon millions of them lap up all the sports content you can thrown at them. Football being at the forefront of that, and United being one of the biggest names worldwide, would have given Qatar a massive platform for self-promotion.
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If anything, as a city fan at least, I’ve always thought it’s had the opposite effect of what some think it has.
Sign in if you want to comment
Sportwashing
Page 2 of 2
posted on 8/12/23
Before asking who does sportswashing, I'd say we should have a clear definition of sportswashing. Is every instance of a country or city wanting to host a sporting event or buy a sporting brand for self-interested purposes the same - whether it's for boosting tourism, attracting investment, broader national/municipal prestige, aiming for domestic popularity, or trying to combat a negative international perception due to human rights issues? As in 'whitewashing' and 'greenwashing'. 'sportswashing' implies hiding some unsavoury truth. The fact that there can be a variety of other sometimes tawdry reasons for investing in sport doesn't mean all are the same.
As for people of foreign heritage representing a country, that occasionally occurs in a context where sportswashing is a driving force. I'm not keen on hasty naturalisation of footballers in order to make them eligible to represent your country. This tends to be a dynamic that enables richer countries to benefit from the talent of poorer ones (though it also created a pathway for generations of mid-level Brazilians to play at World Cups!). But I'm uncomfortable with suggestions that individuals who migrated as kids and developed as footballers in their new country of residence "aren't really English" or French or whatever. That has uncomfortable echoes of political discourse that we should all steer clear of.
posted on 8/12/23
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
posted on 8/12/23
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Frank van Eijs (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyInPoland (U11181)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 36 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 5 minutes ago
It seems to be only a term used for Middle Eastern countries.
What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting though and one the reasons FFP is a good thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it disgusting? I’m not that well up on the subject so please correct me if I’m wrong, but man takes passive pay day to do job isn’t disgusting it’s a fact of life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not having a go at Rahm at all.
If a company called me today and said you can do less hours for 10 times the pay I’d say snap their hands off regardless of the company was backed by the Saudi regime.
It’s disgusting that an outside entity can come and throw billions at a sport to try and destroy what is already there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't PGA make a dealmwoth LIV and that betrayed the ones that stayed with PGA? Why wouldn't he jump ship now if that was the case?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, not the point I’m making.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it certainly appears you are having a go a Rahm! Otherwise why would you be disgusted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is disgusted that the Saudis are able to do that in sport. Not disgusted at Rahm for accepting
----------------------------------------------------------------------If that was the case instead of writing “What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting” he should’ve written, What happened with the Saudi’s and LIV Golf is disgusting!
No?
posted on 8/12/23
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by Frank van Eijs (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by RED666……π½π½ 3-2 Liverpool (U6562)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyInPoland (U11181)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 36 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 5 minutes ago
It seems to be only a term used for Middle Eastern countries.
What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting though and one the reasons FFP is a good thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it disgusting? I’m not that well up on the subject so please correct me if I’m wrong, but man takes passive pay day to do job isn’t disgusting it’s a fact of life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not having a go at Rahm at all.
If a company called me today and said you can do less hours for 10 times the pay I’d say snap their hands off regardless of the company was backed by the Saudi regime.
It’s disgusting that an outside entity can come and throw billions at a sport to try and destroy what is already there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Didn't PGA make a dealmwoth LIV and that betrayed the ones that stayed with PGA? Why wouldn't he jump ship now if that was the case?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, not the point I’m making.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it certainly appears you are having a go a Rahm! Otherwise why would you be disgusted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is disgusted that the Saudis are able to do that in sport. Not disgusted at Rahm for accepting
----------------------------------------------------------------------If that was the case instead of writing “What happened with Jon Rahm in Golf is disgusting” he should’ve written, What happened with the Saudi’s and LIV Golf is disgusting!
No?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes agreed but the Rahm deal has been the biggest yet.
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
posted on 8/12/23
"due to all of that beheading stuff"
Never looks good in a glossy Advertising pamphlet does it...
posted on 8/12/23
The Process
Yes it’s a huge deal alright!
He can come out with all the reasons why he’s now signed up to LIV the money has to be the defining factor, the lad has a young family and at present with the way LIV is setup may probably work better for them.
The other thing which has been touched on is the fact the PGA and DP tours have also done a deal with LIV, which is more concerning than Rahm going LIV, it’s a slap in the face for the guys that stood by the two tours!
One concern is from a football point of view, at present there’s no plans for the Saudi Pro League to be allowed into the Champions League, will that change or is there a bigger picture of some sort of competition with another attempt to form a European Super League and then involving the Saudi’s and whoever else!
posted on 8/12/23
Tjeir is a ufficiale FIFA 32 team club world cup in summer 2025
Eggspecked that will kick start the beginnin of the end
posted on 8/12/23
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by >π²Baz tardπ¦+βοΈ=? (U19119)
posted 9 seconds ago
Take athletics, for example, where virtually every Western nation extends passports to African athletes to run under their flag
—
France and England wouldn’t be the sides they are without this
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which England players were born outside of England/don't have some sort of English heritage? Genuine question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sterling?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomori
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One was Jamaica and one was Canadian. Any Africans?
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would I want a medal? Are you ret@rded?
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
posted on 8/12/23
It doesn’t matter anyway as the Qataris have been told rightfully to fack off. Good riddance
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Has anyone here ever watched a Liv Golf event or Saudi Football League game?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not me. I have never flew Qatar or Emirate airlines either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you want a medal or something...?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would I want a medal? Are you ret@rded?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You sound like you are trying to get credit for something...
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
These countries are playing a long game, imo.
Public perception changes slowly and gradually over the years. People's opinions aren't always as immovable as they appear. Just look at how far right ideologies have slowly been gaining ground around the world in recent years.
Qatar have been organising international events for decades now, gradually aiming higher and higher. It might not sway your opinion, but generations of kids won't have such strong preconceived opinions.
Today's kids will soon be major earners, consumers and decision-makers. Millions upon millions of them lap up all the sports content you can thrown at them. Football being at the forefront of that, and United being one of the biggest names worldwide, would have given Qatar a massive platform for self-promotion.
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
Sport washing is a term used by people to support their own agenda and who generally have minds that are influenced by social media.
The Qatar sport washing notion I really found quite laughable to be honest considering they just held a World Cup and have their hands in a multitude of global sports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definitely an overused term which is often wrongly applied, and I think even in instances where there is an element of laundering reputations it's often one of a number of factors. A middle eastern dictatorship might be interested in the long-term economic benefits of having sport and leisure as a keystone of their economy, and might see short-term profit opportunities, while also understanding that they have a PR problem due to all of that beheading stuff, and being linked to nicer things like smiling faces after a famous athlete scores a lovely goal helps on that side. The less obvious the return on investment, the more one is entitled to question whether these factors are in play.
Where I'd take issue with you is the proposition (if I understood right) that because Qatar already had the WC, etc., it's absurd to think that further investments, such as buying United, are motivated by sportswashing. I don't see sportswashing as necessarily a one-off act whereby you wash the dirty reputation and then it's clean. Bad PR will always be out there, and the motivation is to counterbalance it. It's a strategy, and if the architect judges that it is successful in drawing enough attention away from negative stories and attitudes, isn't it natural that this would encourage more such investments?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don’t understand me right. My point really is that Qatar wouldn’t really gain anything Sports Washing wise really f they bought United.
LIV golf and the Saudi league have not tempted me to change an opinion on the Saudis or watch these sporting events.
And I imagine this would be the same for most people.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If anything, as a city fan at least, I’ve always thought it’s had the opposite effect of what some think it has.
Page 2 of 2