Publication Jul 26, 2024 How the NBA got into business with an African dictator In the summer of 2018, inside a national arena that felt more like a small-college gym, the NBA commissioner shot free throws with the president of Rwanda.
Publication May 17, 2024 Bad Business In my Impromptus today, I have some sports — starting with Simone Biles — and some presidential politics — a lot of that — and some language — the shape-shifting of English — and other matters. Try it here.
Blog Post Feb 9, 2024 A History of Sports and Dictators, Part 1: From Ramses II to Rome’s Bread & Circuses In the Olympic Games of 416, Athenian statesman and military general Alcibiades fielded seven teams in one of the most prestigious Olympic events, the four-horse chariot race known as the quadriga.
Blog Post Jan 12, 2024 Fueling Ambition: Aramco’s pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s sports expansion In November 2023, news broke that Aramco—Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil and energy giant—was set to complete a “significant sponsorship” deal with FIFA that would make it the football governing body’s biggest sponsor over the coming decade.
Report Nov 18, 2022 Qatar’s Human Rights Record in the World’s Spotlight Qatar, a country ruled by a monarchic authoritarian government, is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hosting the top global football tournament is the result of a decade-long project by the government of Qatar to strategically exploit the prestige and popular appeal of sports to grow its global influence, cultivate a favorable image in popular culture, and boost its economy.
Report Nov 18, 2022 Arabic Edition of Qatar Human Rights Report Qatar, a country ruled by a monarchic authoritarian government, is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hosting the top global football tournament is the result of a decade-long project by the government of Qatar to strategically exploit the prestige and popular appeal of sports to grow its global influence, cultivate a favorable image in popular culture, and boost its economy.
Blog Post Jan 21, 2022 The Ignorance and Reluctance of the Rich and the Famous In a recent episode of the podcast “All-In,” Chamath Palihapitiya, billionaire venture capitalist, stakeholder of the Golden State Warriors, and Chairman of Virgin Galactic, commented that “nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs… Of all the things that I care about, it is below my line.”
Press Release Jan 4, 2022 HRF & Lantos to Democracies: Leave Your Olympic Box Seats Empty in Protest With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics one month away, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice (Lantos Foundation) call on democratic governments to commit to a diplomatic boycott of the Games, and refuse to send official representation.
Blog Post Dec 17, 2021 Igniting the Truth Against Authoritarian Sportswashing It is no secret that over the past several years, respect for democratic institutions and human rights has deteriorated around the world.
Press Release Dec 7, 2021 HRF Applauds Biden Administration’s Diplomatic Boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics NEW YORK (December 7, 2021) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) welcomes the Biden administration’s announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Publication Nov 9, 2021 Justin Bieber Slammed by Human Rights Activists Ahead of Saudi Arabia Concert Justin Bieber is being accused by a human rights organization chaired by former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov of becoming a “pawn” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman if he performs in Saudi Arabia next month.
Press Release Nov 9, 2021 HRF to Justin Bieber: Cancel Performance in Saudi Arabia NEW YORK (November 9, 2021) — On December 5, 2021, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is scheduled to perform at the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021
Press Release May 26, 2021 HRF & Lantos to Olympics: Don’t Invite Dictators to the Opening Ceremonies NEW YORK (May 26, 2021) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice (Lantos Foundation) today launched the “Empty Box” Campaign
Press Release May 25, 2021 HRF to NBA: Don’t Play Ball With Rwanda’s Warmonger NEW YORK (May 25, 2021) – This week, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) sent a letter to the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Commissioner
Publication May 11, 2021 Akon’s Romance with Dictatorship Another chapter was recently written in the ongoing romance between celebrities and dictators. This time the dictator seeking to launder his reputation and distract from his crimes was Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.
Press Release Mar 10, 2021 HRF to Pentathlon Championships: Don’t Run With el-Sisi’s Brutal Regime NEW YORK (March 10, 2021) – On Monday, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) sent a letter to the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)
Press Release Jan 15, 2021 HRF to International Ice Hockey Federation Council: Don’t Legitimize Dictatorship in Belarus NEW YORK (January 15, 2021) – Today, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) sent a letter to René Fasel, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
Press Release Oct 27, 2020 HRF to Ladies European Tour: Cancel Tournament in Saudi Arabia NEW YORK — While women’s rights activists languish in prison, Saudi Arabia is preparing to host its first-ever women’s golf tournament.
Press Release Aug 7, 2020 Hip Hop Artist Tyga Cancels Dictator-Sponsored Concert MINSK, BELARUS (August 7, 2020) – American hip hop artist Tyga has cancelled his performance at a government-sponsored concert in Belarus on August 8, after pressure from the Human Rights…
Publication Aug 6, 2020 Tyga Cancels Belarus Concert Criticized as “Propaganda Stunt” Rapper Tyga has been urged by the Human Rights Foundation to cancel a concert in Belarus organized by its “dictator” ruler and due to take place the night before a presidential election.
