World Wars & World Cups

World Wars & World Cups

Author: History Hit December 12, 2022 Duration: 24:07

An accusation that has dogged the Qatar World Cup throughout the tournament is that of ‘sportswashing’. You’ve probably seen it in an article, or heard it in a news report. But what does ‘sportwashing’ actually mean, and where did it come from? While the term itself wasn't coined until 2015, the idea of despotic rulers and authoritarian regimes using large-scale sporting events to help cleanse their global image has been in practice for nearly a century — just look at the ‘Nazi Olympics’ in 1936. But how did Nazi Germany end up hosting those games, and what comes next for Qatar?


In today's episode, James is joined by Professor Martin Polley, the Director of the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University, to talk about the history of sportswashing. Together, they discuss the relationship between authoritarian regimes and Premier League football clubs, look at what the Nazis got right about the 1936 Olympics, and ask whether ‘sportwashing’ really does work…


This episode was edited by Joseph Knight and produced by Annie Coloe.


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Hosted by war historian James Rogers, Warfare digs into the conflicts that have fundamentally constructed the world we live in now. This isn't just a chronological march through dates and places; it's about understanding the forces at play. Rogers, from History Hit, brings together a compelling roster of fellow historians, veterans, and specialists for conversations that go beyond the textbook. They examine everything from the tactical realities of the Normandy landings to the geopolitical tremors of the Cold War, connecting threads between Napoleonic battlefields and the shock of 9/11. What you'll hear in this podcast are the human and technological stories that decided outcomes: moments of improbable leadership, the sudden arrival of a game-changing weapon, and the single battles that irrevocably shifted eras. Released twice weekly, each episode is built to offer a fresh angle, pulling you into the complexities of strategy, sacrifice, and consequence. Tune in for a deeply researched, narrative-driven look at how the engine of conflict has driven, for better and worse, the trajectory of modern history.
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