Bahrain Grand Prix: Human rights group writes to F1 about ‘ongoing concerns’ over ‘sportswashing’

(CNN) A prominent human rights group has written to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to raise serious concerns about the sport’s alleged ongoing role in “sports washing” ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The new season begins in Bahrain on March 5, before the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) has urged F1 and the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, not to “sportwash” the “blood-soaked images” of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia “. , which is hosting a race on March 19th.

“Sportswashing” refers to governments using high-profile sporting events to project a positive image of their country around the world, often to divert attention from alleged wrongdoing.

“Despite appalling human rights records, both states enjoy lavish F1 treaties and use the F1 platform to sanitize their image on the world stage while thousands of political prisoners languish behind bars,” said Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Advocacy Director of BIRD, in a statement on Monday’s letter.

“F1 must launch an independent and impartial inquiry into the role of its races in human rights abuses and the FIA ​​must adopt a human rights policy consistent with UN principles.

“If they don’t, their sport will continue to be used to repair the reputations of brutal dictators.”

In response to BIRD, an F1 spokesman said in a statement to CNN: “Formula 1 has worked hard for decades to be a positive force everywhere it races, including for economic, social and cultural benefits.

“Sports like Formula 1 are uniquely positioned to transcend borders and cultures, to bring countries and communities together to share the passion and excitement of incredible competition and achievement.

“We take our responsibilities very seriously and have made our position on human rights and other issues clear to all our partners and host countries, who commit to respecting human rights in hosting and running their events.”

The FIA, motorsport’s governing body, told CNN it “cannot interfere in the internal affairs of any sovereign state”.

“The FIA, like other international sports federations, cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state,” an FIA spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

“However, this independence from the affairs of states, as emphasized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), does not mean that we are insensitive to possible hardships faced by those affected.

“At the forefront of motorsport, F1 events take place in a huge spectrum of different countries and cultures around the world,” added the FIA ​​statement.

“We believe that the most fundamental goal of motorsport and all sport rests on a desire to increase our common ground and cultivate the principles of cooperation and togetherness between people.

“The FIA ​​will continue to work on projects that bring positive benefits to the wider society, always acting within its framework as the regulator of global motorsport,” the federation added.

CNN has reached out to the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport of Bahrain and the Ministry of Sport of Saudi Arabia for comment.

This isn’t the first time F1 has been in the spotlight for hosting races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

In 2020, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said the sport has a “massive problem” with human rights before competing in Bahrain.

But speaking to CNN Sports days after Hamilton’s comments, former F1 CEO Chase Carey said the sport was “very clear about our commitment to human rights” and was “very proud of our partnership here in Bahrain”.

CNN’s Amanda Davies, Jack Guy and Matias Grez contributed coverage.