Saudi Arabia has wrapped up the sports world with its money. Ari Vatanen does not melt this.
Ari Vatanen publicly criticized Saudi Arabia. Zumawire / mvphotos
Ari Vatanen has set Saudi Arabia in a personal boycott.
The 1981 world champion and four times the winner of the Dakar rally would be the desired invited guest to the Saudi Arabian host of the Aavikkoralli, but Vatanen has not agreed to arrive for organizers’ landing to bring extra visibility.
“I don’t want to be hypocritical, but I can’t obliterate my eyes on where the competition is being driven and how to make dictatorships into salon -friendly,” Vatanen says.
Vatanen is aware that he cannot move the world alone and Saudi Arabia’s sports washing. But he wants to be part of the movement that is “on the good side”.
– Whether or not Tuupovaara is there is no meaning. But I oppose their actions through my conscience.
Vatanen has nothing against the Dakar Rally.
– Competitively, the rally is a really great event. And I’ve heard that the dunes are very challenging in Saudi Arabia. There is nothing wrong with the race athletically, but in its location.
Khashoggi
The murder of Jamal Khashogg, a journalist of Saudi Arabian, was shocked in 2018. EPA / AOP
The Saudi State has harnessed top sports as part of the state’s reputation polishing campaign. With the help of a sports wash, the state aims to hide or translate the debate about internal problems, such as lack of democracy and women’s rights.
Vatanen has not forgotten the Saudi Arabian Jamal Khashoggin Murder in 2018. The leadership of the country’s leadership and its actions openly criticized by a journalist was murdered and his body was destroyed by a state secret police in Turkey when Khashoggi arrived at the country’s consulate.
– The world must not forget him and his fate, says Vatanen.
– I can’t go to the country that is led by a leader who is capable of such a terrible act.
Bow to money
Yazeed Al-Rajhi won the latest Dakar Rally. Despite its name, the legendary desert rally was driven in Saudi Arabia. EPA / AOP
Vatanen is sad about how sports have given up to undemocratic thoughts.
It is not just about Saudi Arabia. Money talks.
– I can’t accept how the monarchy monitors use sports. And how the sports people agree to be exploited as an intermediate body to use the power and credibility of dictators, says Vatanen.
-Is it now that we have drawn a border to North Korea? There is no sport to take the sport, but all other places go.
An ex-European parliamentary encourages people to make noise. Only in this way can changes can be made.
The worst thing is to be silent.
“That’s what indifferent people allow for injustice of the whole world,” Vatanen recalls.
Ears on
The Qatar World Cup was opposed, but despite the protest sound, the race was held. EPA / AOP
According to Vatanen, the sports people could do so much more.
– This famous Russian hockey player in the NHL (Alexandr Ovetshkin) could take a stand to end the Ukrainian war. Or Novak Djokovicwho follows the nationalists of his home country, would say the most out of his country’s atrocities, Vatanen gives examples.
In Vatanen’s opinion, it is very sad that sports decision -makers have chosen the closure of the ears from the disadvantage of the disadvantaged.
For example, the World Cup in Qatar was strongly criticized not only for the country’s human rights violations, but also for the weak conditions comparable to slavery that enabled foreign workers.
– Sports could play a big role in creating a better world. Instead, money seems to be talking, unfortunately, Vatanen says.
Removing the hockey World Championships from Belarus in 2021 was Vatanen’s opinion, a supportive example of the power of sports. He would like to have the same courage from decision makers.
Sports and politics
Some believe that sports and politics should not be confused. Vatanen screams for the idea.
– That’s what the dictators want, says Vatanen.
Vatanen is aware of the subject to evoke strong emotions. Still, he stands unusually on the side of the thing he finds himself right.
– If you are looking for the truth, you often have to swim upstream of public opinion. The test of time shows without brutally showing who is on the right side of history.