“Sportwashing” refers to the hosting of a sporting event in a country to improve its tarnished reputation, particularly regarding human rights abuses in non-democratic or autocratic regimes. The most recent such case was the controversy of an inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Formula 1 auto race to take place in November 2021.
BACKLASH OVER SAUDI’S FIRST FORMULA 1 EVENT
Formula 1 in early November 2020 announced that Saudi Arabia are to host their first ever Grand Prix Formula 1 racing event. This announcement came after a new partnership was struck between Formula 1 and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, through which Saudi Arabia will take part in the Grand Prix, a series of motorsport races part of a larger international tournament. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be a night race in Jeddah city, scheduled to take place in November 2021.
However, the announcement has been met by international backlash. Amnesty International criticised the event based on the “appalling” human rights record of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabic has also previously used sporting events to increase its image abroad. Golf, tennis, horseracing and more recently, boxing, are some of the sporting events already held in the country. In 2019, the heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, competed in a world title rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. During an interview, when confronted with Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Joshua was unaware of Human Rights Organizations such as Amnesty International and displayed ignorance of the widespread human rights abuses. British Boxer Anthony Joshua was estimated to earn £60m minimum from this match, not counting the endorsements and merchandise that go with it.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is likely to lead to an inflow of money into the country. Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s second biggest city after Riyadh, and its commercial sea-port will open the gate to further economic activity and also provides access to Mecca. Once a new race circuit, currently being built to host the Grand Prix, opens in Qiddiyah, Riyadh in 2023, investment flows and economic activity will likely sky-rocket. This will boost Saudi’s economy, which has suffered due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These economic benefits cast a wide net over Saudi Arabia’s long-standing human rights abuses.
MOUNTING CONTROVERSY DESPITE FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT
When questioned about the Formula 1 race, the recently appointed Saudi Sports Minister (His Royal Highness, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal) adamantly said Saudi Arabia considers itself to be on a “transformational journey”. But what is the nature of that transformation? Is it a transformation of society or merely an economic transformation?
It is true that Saudi Arabia has opened up considerably more under the rule of the crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman. For example, the crown prince was the overseer for allowing woman to drive and economic reform behind ‘Vision 2030’. Entry into sport stadiums have now been relaxed being previously banned. The crown prince also wants to increase non-oil revenue, add women to the labour force and he has taken important steps in this regard, despite his father still being King.
However, since the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, there has been diminishing confidence in the ability of the monarchy under the crown prince. Khashoggi, a famous Saudi dissident and author who spoke out against the Saudi Kingdom’s authoritarian rule, was murdered on foreign Turkish soil by Saudi nationals, who are now on trial for murder. The crown prince is silencing any challenge to his rule, which included the late Jamal Khashoggi, whopaid the price with his life. The denial by the crown prince of any involvement in this matter may further impact on the country’s ability to attract foreign investment. Saudi Arabia also saw a drop of foreign investment of $650m right after the murder of Khashoggi.
Confidence in Saudi’s economy plunged further earlier this year, as the oil economy dipped with the onslaught of the pandemic. Oil prices dipped as a result of regional rivals Saudi and Iran, going head-on in an oil price war.
Formula 1 has so far failed to provide insight into how the company’s operations will improve human rights in Saudi, with labour contracts being of paramount concern. Around 30 percent of Saudi’s working population are expatriates while Saudi nationals are largely under-represented in the private workforce, while representing 70 percent of the public workforce. The process of “Saudization” is attempting to reverse this trend and increase representation of locals in the private sphere. Due to stringent labour laws, Saudi nationals are better protected in comparison to foreigners. Thus, the concern of labour contracts here is of prime concern, with foreign workers considered a vulnerable group.
CHANGING THE OUTCOME
There comes a certain responsibility that especially sporting organisations and participants of sporting events have in relation to countries with poor human rights records. They have the opportunity to use their voice, the attributed fame and social standing to speak out against sportswashing. Several strategies may be followed, one of which is not to engage directly with such countries and to take up a more activist role. Anthony Joshua and Formula 1 can use their position to solidify their stance against the act of sportswashing, to make demands, call for change, and use their eminence especially in a place such as Saudi Arabia. Sadly, however there is always the lure of money, resulting in human right abuses being swept under the carpet – yet again.
Jacob Adib is currently an Analyst for the MENA region focusing on Drinks & Tobacco research. He mainly handles the Levant countries Jordan, Iraq occasionally Lebanon as well as Morocco, and Tunisia . He has recently written about the impact that Coronavirus is having on the Tobacco market across the Arab World. Coming from the Middle East, previous studies, current work and ongoing passion for Human Rights causes him to care deeply about the corruption that topples the most marginalised and impoverished especially in Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria and Iraq.