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Episode details

World Service,30 Dec 2023,17 mins

What is sportswashing?

The Explanation

Available for over a year

In recent years, many sports have received huge investment from oil-rich petrostates, and while the term ‘sportswashing’ is relatively new, the idea of using sport as a way to deflect negative publicity has been around for years. The impact of recent huge investment has changed the landscape for football, golf, F1, cricket and boxing and many believe this to be a new form of soft power for those involved. Dan Roan, sports editor at BBC News, talks to Claire Graham about the accusation that countries are investing in sport and high-profile events to improve their international reputation.

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