sportswash
English edit
Etymology edit
Verb edit
sportswash (third-person singular simple present sportswashes, present participle sportswashing, simple past and past participle sportswashed)
- To use sporting events to improve a polity's reputation, especially to distract from human rights abuses.
- 2019, “Joshua v Ruiz II: Anthony Joshua responds to 'sportswashing' Saudi human rights claims”, in BBC:
- Asked how he would feel if the event was part of a move to "sportswash" over wrongdoing, he said: "If that was the case I would definitely have to say I would be bothered – but my only focus is the boxing."
Noun edit
sportswash (plural sportswashes)
- An incidence of sportswashing
Related terms edit
- sportswashed (adj)
- sportswashing (n)