sportswash

sports +‎ -wash

sportswash (third-person singular simple present sportswashes, present participle sportswashing, simple past and past participle sportswashed)

1. To use sporting events to improve a polity's reputation, especially to distract from human rights abuses.
   • 2019, “Joshua v Ruiz II: Anthony Joshua responds to 'sportswashing' Saudi human rights claims”, in BBC:

     Asked how he would feel if the event was part of a move to "sportswash" over wrongdoing, he said: "If that was the case I would definitely have to say I would be bothered – but my only focus is the boxing."

sportswash (plural sportswashes)

1. An incidence of sportswashing