The Dirty Game of Sportswashing: Big Oil's Playbook
September 26, 2024, 10:38 pm
In the grand arena of sports, a shadow looms. It’s not just the thrill of competition or the roar of the crowd. It’s the murky influence of Big Oil, wielding billions to reshape its image. This is sportswashing—a tactic as old as the hills, where money meets morality in a dance of distraction.
Recent reports reveal that fossil fuel companies have poured a staggering $5.6 billion into sports sponsorships since 2011. This is not mere philanthropy; it’s a calculated strategy to divert attention from their role in climate change. The New Weather Institute (NWI) has pulled back the curtain on this practice, revealing how sports entities become unwitting accomplices in a narrative that seeks to obscure the truth.
Imagine a magician performing tricks. The audience is captivated, eyes glued to the spectacle, unaware of the sleight of hand. That’s how sportswashing works. Major players like Saudi Aramco, Ineos, Shell, and TotalEnergies are the magicians, and the world of sports is their stage. They sponsor everything from football to motorsports, creating a façade of goodwill while their actions contribute to a warming planet.
The report identifies the “Big Four” sportswashers, responsible for nearly $2.9 billion in sponsorship deals. Saudi Aramco, the world’s most profitable company, leads the pack. Its involvement in sports is extensive, with a $100 million partnership with FIFA and multiple deals worth over $1.3 billion. This is a company that has been linked to 4% of global emissions since 1965. Yet, in the eyes of the public, it’s a benevolent supporter of sports.
Ineos, helmed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is another heavyweight. With $777 million invested across various sports, including rugby and football, it seeks to align itself with the positive vibes of athleticism. Shell, with its long-standing partnership with Ferrari, and TotalEnergies, involved in high-profile events like the Rugby World Cup, round out the quartet. They’re not just sponsors; they’re shaping narratives.
Football, the world’s most popular sport, has been particularly susceptible to this influence. With 59 active deals worth $994 million, it’s a prime target for sportswashing. Motorsports, however, take the crown for the highest value sponsorships, raking in $2.1 billion. The allure of speed and spectacle provides a perfect backdrop for these companies to flaunt their support.
But the influence of Big Oil extends beyond teams and events. Individual athletes are also caught in this web. Icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have become ambassadors for Middle Eastern interests, lending their star power to promote regimes with questionable human rights records. Their massive social media followings amplify the message, creating a veneer of legitimacy for sponsors whose practices are anything but clean.
The Gulf States, particularly Saudi Arabia, are aggressively pursuing sports sponsorships. With a dismal score of eight out of 100 in the Freedom of the World report, the country is among the highest greenhouse gas emitters. Yet, it’s investing heavily in sports to bolster its image. The crown prince himself has stated that if sportswashing boosts GDP, it’s a strategy worth pursuing.
This isn’t just about sports; it’s about public perception. Just as tobacco companies once sponsored sports to normalize their products, fossil fuel companies are doing the same. They seek to associate their polluting activities with the positive attributes of sports—health, vitality, and community. It’s a dangerous game, one that threatens the very fabric of the sporting world.
The NWI report calls for urgent action. It urges sports organizations to adopt tobacco-style bans on fossil fuel sponsorships. Transparency is key. Fans deserve to know the emissions data and climate action measures of their sponsors. The integrity of sports hangs in the balance.
If sports become a billboard for companies that fuel climate breakdown, they risk becoming obstacles to climate action. The stakes are high. The future of athletes, fans, and events is at risk. The extreme weather patterns fueled by climate change threaten to disrupt everything from the Winter Olympics to the World Cup.
As the world grapples with the climate crisis, the role of sports in shaping public perception becomes increasingly critical. The message is clear: sports must clean up its act. It’s time to sever ties with dirty money and seek funding that aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
In this high-stakes game, the players are not just athletes. They are the fans, the organizations, and the very planet we inhabit. The time for action is now. The future of sports—and the future of our planet—depends on it.
Recent reports reveal that fossil fuel companies have poured a staggering $5.6 billion into sports sponsorships since 2011. This is not mere philanthropy; it’s a calculated strategy to divert attention from their role in climate change. The New Weather Institute (NWI) has pulled back the curtain on this practice, revealing how sports entities become unwitting accomplices in a narrative that seeks to obscure the truth.
Imagine a magician performing tricks. The audience is captivated, eyes glued to the spectacle, unaware of the sleight of hand. That’s how sportswashing works. Major players like Saudi Aramco, Ineos, Shell, and TotalEnergies are the magicians, and the world of sports is their stage. They sponsor everything from football to motorsports, creating a façade of goodwill while their actions contribute to a warming planet.
The report identifies the “Big Four” sportswashers, responsible for nearly $2.9 billion in sponsorship deals. Saudi Aramco, the world’s most profitable company, leads the pack. Its involvement in sports is extensive, with a $100 million partnership with FIFA and multiple deals worth over $1.3 billion. This is a company that has been linked to 4% of global emissions since 1965. Yet, in the eyes of the public, it’s a benevolent supporter of sports.
Ineos, helmed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is another heavyweight. With $777 million invested across various sports, including rugby and football, it seeks to align itself with the positive vibes of athleticism. Shell, with its long-standing partnership with Ferrari, and TotalEnergies, involved in high-profile events like the Rugby World Cup, round out the quartet. They’re not just sponsors; they’re shaping narratives.
Football, the world’s most popular sport, has been particularly susceptible to this influence. With 59 active deals worth $994 million, it’s a prime target for sportswashing. Motorsports, however, take the crown for the highest value sponsorships, raking in $2.1 billion. The allure of speed and spectacle provides a perfect backdrop for these companies to flaunt their support.
But the influence of Big Oil extends beyond teams and events. Individual athletes are also caught in this web. Icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have become ambassadors for Middle Eastern interests, lending their star power to promote regimes with questionable human rights records. Their massive social media followings amplify the message, creating a veneer of legitimacy for sponsors whose practices are anything but clean.
The Gulf States, particularly Saudi Arabia, are aggressively pursuing sports sponsorships. With a dismal score of eight out of 100 in the Freedom of the World report, the country is among the highest greenhouse gas emitters. Yet, it’s investing heavily in sports to bolster its image. The crown prince himself has stated that if sportswashing boosts GDP, it’s a strategy worth pursuing.
This isn’t just about sports; it’s about public perception. Just as tobacco companies once sponsored sports to normalize their products, fossil fuel companies are doing the same. They seek to associate their polluting activities with the positive attributes of sports—health, vitality, and community. It’s a dangerous game, one that threatens the very fabric of the sporting world.
The NWI report calls for urgent action. It urges sports organizations to adopt tobacco-style bans on fossil fuel sponsorships. Transparency is key. Fans deserve to know the emissions data and climate action measures of their sponsors. The integrity of sports hangs in the balance.
If sports become a billboard for companies that fuel climate breakdown, they risk becoming obstacles to climate action. The stakes are high. The future of athletes, fans, and events is at risk. The extreme weather patterns fueled by climate change threaten to disrupt everything from the Winter Olympics to the World Cup.
As the world grapples with the climate crisis, the role of sports in shaping public perception becomes increasingly critical. The message is clear: sports must clean up its act. It’s time to sever ties with dirty money and seek funding that aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
In this high-stakes game, the players are not just athletes. They are the fans, the organizations, and the very planet we inhabit. The time for action is now. The future of sports—and the future of our planet—depends on it.