caveyh96 t1_j9u21xd wrote on February 24, 2023 at 3:47 PM

Reply to comment by bimbles_ap in 'LIV has to get stronger - or it will disappear' by rejs7

But I wasn't fooled and it isn't something I overly take much notice in. Look if anything it actively harms the country due to the spotlight.

Because I think the interest in their countries isn't always their. It could be that by having these massive events builds the interest they can then build from.

I could well be wrong but from everything I see sports washing doesn't work.

bimbles_ap t1_j9u4ua5 wrote on February 24, 2023 at 4:05 PM

It's not really working because it's clear how much money they're throwing around. If we didn't know about some of the top golfers being paid 9 figures to join it'd be a different story. And the corruption within FIFA isn't exactly a secret anymore either.

When Russia hosted the Olympics the story became the games for a period and the Crimea story was put on the back burner. Russia waiting to invade Ukraine until after the Beijing games was likely orchestrated as well.

It doesn't work on everyone, but most people really only follow major news cycles. And when a sporting event is big enough it'll tend to dominate the news and the other things about that country becomes a footnote.