From the Olympics to the World Cup, every major sports event is associated with national pride, joy and excitement. But is there a shadier side to sports?
“Sportswashing”, or when an individual, group, corporation, or nation-state uses sport to improve its reputation, is considered a potentially costly form of propaganda. Countries with a poor human rights record pay enormous sums to boost their image and “wash” over any mention of their human rights violations.
So what are some examples of sportswashing and can it ever be a good thing?
Our host Wade discusses the potential humanitarian cost of sporting events with Ben Jacobs, a London-based sports journalist and broadcasting expert.
The Good, The Rights, and The Ugly is an International Observatory of Human Rights production. For more information about human rights and the work that we do, please visit iohr.rightsobservatory.org/
Wade McElwain is a presenter, producer, and international award-winning comedian based in London.
