Sports events and human rights records on Lords agenda

Debate

Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat), vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and Human Rights in the Gulf, put forward the debate.

This is a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.

Members speaking

Members speaking in the debate included:

• Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat), vice president of UK Sports Association
• Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour), Lords shadow spokesperson for culture, media and sport
• Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench), Paralympian
• Lord Hayward (Conservative), rugby union referee
• Lord Moynihan (Conservative), Olympian.

Opening the debate, Lord Scriven said:

'One of the most common tactics is for countries with tarnished images to build for, then host major sporting events. These events attract global attention, providing an opportunity for governments to present positive imaging while diverting attention away from issues such as political repression, corruption or human rights abuses.'

Baroness Grey-Thompson added:

'There are lots of different types of washing. There is 'purplewashing', in terms of how disabled people are treated and used. Merely putting a wheelchair user in a picture of people doing sport does not mean there is inclusion in a governing body or an international federation.

'We have to challenge the international federations. What is the International Olympic Committee doing? What is the International Paralympic Committee doing? What is FIFA doing?'

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, responded on behalf of the government:

'Major sporting events can be used as a way to catalyse investment in facilities to ensure that anyone who wants to take part in sport is able to do so.

'The UK continues to show global leadership in encouraging all states to uphold international rights obligations and to ensure that those who violate human rights are held to account.'

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