Amnesty International UK is warning us that China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are using sport events to whitewash their poor human rights record.

From the latest hosting of the Formula 1 race by Saudi Arabia, to upcoming events as Winter Olympics in China and World Cup in Qatar are part of the sport washing according to the charity. 

UK government joined diplomatic boycott of China Beijing 2022 Olympics which was announced by Boris Johnson, in the result no ministers will attend this event.

United Kingdom isn’t first country to make such decision as USA, Canada and Australia politics decided to not take a part in the upcoming Olympic winter game as well.

Kirklees Amnesty volunteer Yousuf Zubair bring us closer to the work which Amnesty International do in the context of” whitewashing”: 

“We are trying to make a public debate, because if you ask somebody are you happy that this person is done torture and imprisonment and all these things than 99% or 100% people hopefully would say absolutely NO. But it’s quite easy to just quietly do something without anybody realising. That’s why work of Amnesty and groups like amnesty international are really important.”

“The more we talk about these things and have tests, things put in place procedures put in place. Event’s organizers whether sport events, media events they can measure: well should we really be going ahead with an event in this country?”