Strategy Aramco Houston Marathon Campaign In January 2024, HRF launched a campaign during the 2024 Houston Marathon to protest Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship of the half-marathon event. HRF was present on the ground engaging with attendees and athletes to raise awareness of the Saudi regime’s human rights abuses.
Strategy Empty Box HRF joined grassroots activists and concerned global citizens to urge democratic nations to refuse to send official representation to the Beijing Olympics – to leave their Olympic box seats empty in protest.
Strategy Football Club Tracker HRF’ launched an interactive tool tracking the authoritarian regimes linked to football clubs in the five most popular leagues in the world. The tool debuted at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum.
Blog Post Oct 18, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 4: Soviet Sports propaganda When Tsar Peter I — better known as Peter the Great — visited England in 1689, he arranged what has been called the “first international boxing match” in the garden of the nobleman’s home.
Blog Post Sep 6, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 3: Post-WWII Soft Power Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 US senators call out NBA’s relationship with Rwanda dictator Paul Kagame: ‘Putting profit over principle’ Two United States senators have accused the NBA of “putting profit over principle,” which was detailed in a letter sent to commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 Oregon Sen. Merkley raises concerns over reported NBA ties to Rwandan dictatorship Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley sent a letter to National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday, raising concerns over the organization’s reported ties to dictators.
Publication Aug 27, 2024 NBA under fire: U.S. Senators slam league’s ties to controversial Rwandan leader The NBA finds itself in the hot seat once again, but this time, it’s not over a controversial call or a player feud-it’s a matter of global ethics.
Blog Post Aug 9, 2024 A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 2: The Rise of Fascism Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging.
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.
Publication Aug 4, 2015 Lionel Messi accused of undermining children’s rights work with Gabon visit US-based group says Barcelona striker displayed ‘enthusiastic support for dictatorship that has refused to investigate ritual murders
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi Slammed for ‘Partying with Oppressors’ by Human Rights Foundation The Human Rights Foundation has issued a scathing attack on Lionel Messi in the wake of his recent visit to Gabon, accusing the Barcelona icon of “partying with oppressors.”
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi criticised by Human Rights Foundation for Gabon trip HRF condemns Barcelona star’s trip to Gabon amidst allegations of child murder and organ harvesting
Publication Aug 3, 2015 Lionel Messi accused of endorsing Gabon ‘dictatorship’ with visit to 2017 Africa Cup of Nations venue Barcelona striker Lionel Messi accused by activists of showing ‘enthusiastic support’ for central African country that failed to halt ritual murder of children.
