Regime is using sport as a tool for soft power but has failed to wash away sickening track record on human rights
Looking back, so much of it was already there on that night in Diriyah when a storm raged across the desert and Anthony Joshua made history – and £60m – by retaining his world heavyweight title belts. Not just the good, the bad and the ugly of Saudi Arabia’s sporting ambitions, but the accommodations of those willing to take the money and look the other way.
One moment from the fight in December 2019 lingers more than most: Joshua absorbing the cheers from the young crowd, many of whom were women in western clothes, before averting his gaze upwards towards the kingdom’s ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, and giving a fist-pump to the man who had made it all possible.
Written by Sean Ingle
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/jun/07/saudi-arabia-deal-pga-major-step-sportswashing-golf under the title “Saudi Arabia’s deal with PGA is major step in relentless sportswashing saga | Sean Ingle”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
