Formula One in Rwanda: Sportswashing claims vs. hopes for African legacy

Formula One's return to Africa sparks debate over sportswashing and legacy

The full report

Formula One will return to Africa for the first time since 1993, according to DW News. The event is set to take place in Rwanda, with the track to be built in Bugesera near Kigali International Airport, which Qatar Airways, an F1 sponsor, owns 60% of.

There is concern that Rwanda are using the event as another sportswashing opportunity, but there is also hope that the event's legacy can impact wider African society. Rwanda's sports portfolio has grown after confirming it will host Formula One races from the early 2030s.

F1 have highlighted the benefits for the host nation, stating that the event can inspire and bring the passion of F1 to over 100 million fans across Africa. An F1 spokesperson told The Athletic that sport can be a positive force for good.

However, critics, including Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, have accused Rwanda of sportswashing and raised concerns about the country's human rights record. Mudge stated that F1 should only approve racing in the country after addressing the human rights impacts of hosting a race there.

Rwanda has been accused of using high-profile sports deals and races in the past to distract from its human rights record. The country is currently the power behind the abusive M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its military forces have been implicated in unlawful displacement and deaths of civilians in violation of international humanitarian law.

Mohamed Keita, Senior Policy Officer, Africa, at the Human Rights Foundation, stated that the fact that F1 excluded the world's second largest continent from its race series for three decades is indefensible and a stain on the sport.

The return of Formula One to Africa is overdue, but the choice of country is telling, according to Keita. He believes that the event can have a positive impact on the continent, but only if the human rights issues are addressed.

F1 have not responded to Human Rights Watch's request to address the human rights impacts of its activities, including regarding Rwanda and other countries' bid to host a F1 Grand Prix.

Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, has been involved in various sports ventures, including European football and the NBA, and has sponsored Bayern Munich. However, the commercial element with the country's tourist arm, Visit Rwanda, was dropped last year due to backlash.

The value of the sport is approximately $34 billion, according to sports business website Sportico.

The deal may have positive economic and social impacts across Africa, but critics are concerned about the circumstances on the ground in Rwanda.

South African presenter and content creator Nqobile Khwezi expressed her excitement about the event, stating that it would be an absolute delight to give the taste of Formula One back to the rest of the world and the audience.

The event is set to take place in the early 2030s, and the track is expected to be built in Bugesera near Kigali International Airport.

Qatar Airways, an F1 sponsor, owns 60% of the airport, which has raised concerns about the country's involvement in the event.

The event has sparked debate over sportswashing and legacy, with some hoping that it can have a positive impact on the continent, while others are concerned about the human rights record of the host country.