garyt1957
Glad their "PR" strategy isn't working for you. But they think it's worth the effort.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2022/06/10/sportswashing-explained-saudis-liv-golf/10003676002/
**"Sport is loved and played around the world, it is a giant unifying force, and it’s also a multi-billion dollar industry," the organization wrote. " ... By associating themselves with sport, leaders are seeking to position their country in line with that magic. They want to bask in reflected glory, and thus lighten their image.**
"Sporting events have good reputations. They’re glamorous. They invite prestige, and prestigious characters," said Dana Ahmed, a researcher at Amnesty International who specializes in Saudi Arabia. "So these kinds of events contribute to creating a new image for Saudi Arabia. They contribute to the country’s efforts in rebranding itself.
Perhaps the clearest examples of this, human rights activists say, are instances in which countries host major international sporting events. They often point to recent hosts of the Winter Olympics (Russia and China) and World Cup (Russia and Qatar)."
Ahmed said Saudi Arabia has made a broad concerted effort to rebrand its image in recent years, particularly after the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside a Saudi consulate in 2018. A U.S. intelligence report determined the country's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, signed off on the operation.
"Sportswashing is one part of (the PR strategy)," Ahmed said. "Another part of it is all the entertainment events that include women, some legislative reforms in the country that also allow for women’s participation in society.
Chadwick said that while the Saudis' investment in LIV Golf might not result in an immediate financial payoff, it is a play for both long-term profit and political capital. And althgouh only one of the league's eight scheduled events will be held in Saudi Arabia, he believes LIV Golf is yet another sign that the nation is trying to position itself as an international sports destination, which would bring both clout and money down the line.
It’s almost as though Saudi Arabia is trying to position itself as the Las Vegas of the Middle East," Chadwick said."