The dirty laundry of sportswashing
Lately, we’re pumped for the Paris Olympics. But does the excitement around the Summer Games act as the perfect distraction?
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Show Notes
The Paris Olympics are nearly upon us, and one thing is clearer than the Seine: For some countries, sports are the ultimate distraction. Dubious human rights records? Look at our athletes!
It’s called sportswashing, an attempt by nations and companies to take the focus off their less-than-stellar practices. Our guest, Globe and Mail reporter Simon Houpt walks us through the long history of sportswashing, all the way from the inception of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece to the present day.
Also, Vass ribs Katrina for being an Olympics superfan.
Simon Houpt writes about sports media and the business of sports for The Globe. His article that inspired this episode is called “Why do we reserve the term ‘sportswashing’ for repressive regimes and not, say, Coca-Cola?”
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