“Wherever you look Saudi Arabia, you can see the growth and progress and I’m excited to be a part of it. I continue to play tennis because I love it. But beyond playing, I want to help grow this sport worldwide and there is great potential in Saudi Arabia.” With this statement released by the Saudi federation, he said: Rafael Nadal He demonstrated his commitment as the tennis ambassador of a country condemned by the world’s leading organizations for its continued violations of human rights. Human Rights Watch.
This association led to endless criticism of the Balearic tennis player. Financial figures of the agreement have not yet been disclosed, but RiyadhIn addition to promoting the growth of tennis in general, plans are also afoot to develop a new sport of tennis.Rafa Nadal Academy‘ This helps aspiring players become great players.
Another sign of the Saudi Arabian authorities’ interest in opening up to the world through sports is called ‘Sportwashing’. Golf figures before Nadal Jon Rahm (more than 500 million, a record in sports), football stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema o Competition organizations such as Neymar and Formula 1, Dakar rally wave Spanish Super Cupamong others.
The harshest criticisms were read on social networks, the common denominator being: Why is someone who already has so much money associated with such a contradictory regime, so backward in terms of women’s rights, gay rights or immigrant rights? As condemned by NGOs? The monarchy’s displays of openness in recent years have served as an excuse for Nadal, like many athletes before.
Odon ElorzaThe PSOE member himself was harsh: “But… Nadal needs more money to justify an autocratic regime that violates human rights? What a disappointment,” he wrote. Nadal became a trending topic on Twitter.