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Israel, Chris Froome & Sportswashing

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     The term ‘sportswashing’ gets brandished whenever geo-political tensions and sport intersect. Put simply it refers to powers, typically states using sporting events/franchises as a means to launder their reputation and/or poor human rights track record. Though it has more recently cited as an issue in football (where national state owned airlines and oil refineries can be seen emblazoned on the shirts of players), it is by no means a new enterprise. The British Empire relied heavily on organised sport as a means of spreading its cultural will through the colonies.  Yet I have found myself thinking about it with renewed vigour in recent weeks, as I watch the Israel Start-Up Nation in the 2021 Giro D’Italia. I am of course referring to one issue in particular here, Palestine. Although, given sports long history of being a tool to divert attention from violent colonial occupations it is hardly surprising that these connections are being made. On 8th May, as Israel Start-Up Nation rid
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Mob Football

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- The Mob - Royal Shrovetide Mob Football, Ashbourne, 25/02/2019
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Trying to be an ally

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I promise you.  I am trying.  To be there ready.      Willing.       Listening .  To not be silent.      Passive.       Idle.  To unpack my privileges.      Biases.      Shortcomings.  To make up for battles I have missed.      Naive.      Ignorant. But I am here. T rying.                I promise you I am trying.                                                                    God am I trying.                                                                                  I am trying.              - Edward Loveman -                                                            
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Déjà vu? Well, let us hope not.

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Have we witnessed the discourses of contemporary England in Europe before? Well, let's hope not. By Edward Loveman Following this week's attempted ' Trumpist'  coup of  in the US Capital, you would be excused for thinking that the most serious threat to Western democracy lay within its largest. Certainly, it would be remiss to ignore the voices of White Supremacy that hold such sway for many citizens in the US (this alone requires its own post - perhaps multiple!). But do not let recent events draw attention away from the realities of England's problems. I say this as a caution, because one could argue that the last time Europe witnessed the discourses of present it resulted in arguably the most deeply disturbing crime against humanity in modern history. 'Do not let recent events draw attention away from the realities of England's problems'. A country in economic turmoil, with many associating their feeling of being 'lost at sea' with the process
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