sportswashing

American  

[spawrts-wosh-ing, -waw-shing] / ˈspɔrtsˌwɒʃ ɪŋ, -ˌwɔ ʃɪŋ /

noun

1. an instance or practice of rehabilitating the bad reputation of a person, company, nation, etc., or mitigating negative press coverage with a sports event, or an appeal to unify and reconcile groups in conflict by celebrating fans’ shared love of a game.

   The cost of sportswashing, from building stadiums to other infrastructure investments, has been worth it to a regime with such an indefensible human rights record.

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Etymology

Origin of sportswashing

First recorded in 2010–15; sportswash ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared to acknowledge that criticism in a recent interview, saying that if sportswashing boosts the country’s GDP by 1%, it is a strategy he will continue.

From MarketWatch

“Sportswashing”—you’ve likely heard the term.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Rwandan government has dismissed accusations of sportswashing, with its chief tourism officer Irene Murerwa calling them "a distraction" from the "amazing and outstanding achievements the country has made".

From BBC

Last year, the country's sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, defended the country's right to host the tournament, told me claims of sportswashing were "shallow."

From BBC

Ineos, which has invested in a range of sports teams, also declined to comment, although its chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously denied allegations of 'sportswashing' by campaigners.

From BBC