– This is a friendly tournament, organized by the Emirati government fund. So this is part of a larger investment in sports, which helps to strengthen the reputation of the United Arab Emirates, and is part of the sports laundering. That’s what Frank Conde Tangberg, Amnesty’s political adviser, says about the tournament in Abu Dhabi that went off at the weekend. AMNESTY ADVISOR: Frank Conde Tangberg Photo: Tom Balgaard / news Ruud came third after outmaneuvering Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, but sporting upswing notwithstanding: the Amnesty advisor is clear that athletes should be aware of what they are participating in. – We do not take a decision on whether athletes should participate or boycott such championships, that is up to them, but we have been concerned that the emirates invest heavily in sports. Sport is then a pawn that is used, and that is something the athletes should be aware of, says Tangberg. The tournament did not give any ranking points, is not part of the ATP tour, and takes place out of season. Explaining the choice, Team Ruud clarifies that it was still only sporting considerations behind the participation, and that the human rights situation in Abu Dhabi was not a factor. – There are sporting considerations that underlie his traveling here for match play, sparring and acclimatization with the world’s best players on both the women’s and men’s side, says Tina Falster to news. She is the tennis ace’s manager and aunt. – The participation in Mubadala is part of Casper Ruud’s training for a new, long season that starts in Australia after Christmas, she says. SPRING TIME: Ruud took the Christmas streak in Abu Dhabi. Photo: SATISH KUMAR / Reuters The main character says a little more about the Abu Dhabi stay in Eurosport’s podcast “Ruud talk”. – I get to play matches against good players and also some training. The conditions are good, and somewhat similar to what we will play in Australia, considering the weather and playing outdoors. It is not possible in Norway these days. It is also not so easy to find training (tracks) in Norway at this time of the year either. It’s good to have a few days here, before I go home to celebrate Christmas with my family, says Ruud about his stay in the Emirates. Hovland, Haaland, Hauger and Ruud Helgen’s participation was the Norwegian’s first in the tournament, which is therefore fully financed by the state investor fund Mubadala. The fund’s head office is located in the United Arab Emirates, where significant human rights violations take place. – There is a strong suppression of freedom of expression and there are arbitrary arrests on a significant scale. Prisoners are treated inhumanely, says Amnesty’s Tangberg, and adds: – For example, they use spyware such as the infamous Pegasus to monitor critics. So there are many violations of the right to privacy in the Emirates if you are a human rights defender, journalist or similar. Then you are particularly vulnerable. Casper Ruud is far from the first Norwegian sports figure to participate in tournaments in repressive regimes. Dennis Hauger, Viktor Hovland and Erling Braut Haaland are among the heroes who have received critical questions about sports laundering in the past year.
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Amnesty believes that Casper Ruud participated in a tennis tournament that is part of sports laundering – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
