Column | The comprehensive leadership of the Golf

Zapping through the Weekeindse Topsport, I noticed how far Arabian Gulf States were torn on the TV screen. The United Arab Emirates praised with their airline Emirates along the tennis courts of Roland Garros in Paris. The Cycling round Giro D’Italia was almost won by the Uae Emirates team, in addition to a team sponsored by Bahrain and one with Alula as a sponsor, a Saudi tourist resort. Advertising for Qatar Airways along the lines of the stadium where Qatar also paid Paris Saint Germain in the final of the Champions League made Inter Milan.

That is no coincidence. « Today the economic power of the Gulf States, the ambitious strategic vision and vast international relationships are essential factors that have strengthened their growing geopolitical influence within and outside the region. » I quote from the weekly publication of the Emiraatse think tank Emirates Policy Center under the heading « The new comprehensive leadership: how the Golf leads regional initiatives and rewrites cultural narratives ». With some contempt: « The countries that once dominated the Arab region (Egypt, Iraq and Syria) can no longer play a comprehensive leading role due to (..) internal division, wars, structural shortcomings and administrative failure. » The hell of Gaza remained unmentioned.

Very satisfied with itself, the golf region. Thanks to the income from abundantly present oil and gas stocks, and handy using the new multipolarity in the world: the love relationship with President Trump, thriving trade with China and the very pleasant relations with Russia despite the war in Ukraine.

Sport is important part of that ambitious strategic vision; A heavy weapon in the hands of what is only a small area, with a minimal but extremely rich part of the world population, to acquire brand awareness and influence and to unlock new sources of income through curious tourists. That happens and succeeds, that is clear, by sponsoring top sport abroad and also bringing top sport to your own country (and at the right time the right people to buy). The Emirates focus in particular on the Financing of sport abroadincluding large football clubs such as Arsenal and Real Madrid. Saudi Arabia is a sponsor of the World Cup in 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the US, and has won that World Cup for 2034. First in 2029 the Asian Winter Games in the Saudi futuristic mega city Neom. Qatar in turn had the World Cup of 2022, an investment of around 220 billion dollars (Russia 2018 11.6 billion) through a country where football hardly plays a role. But yes, four million visitors and positive attention – Sport drowns out Western squeaks about human rights. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are both in the market for the 2036 Olympic Games.

How did I actually end up with this subject? Not only because of the television images of the weekend and that poachy story of that Emiraatse think tank. It started with the fight in the ITTF, the international table tennis Federation, in Qatar, where last week the Qatarese vice-president Khalil Al-Monmannadi thought he was chosen as chairman.

It became one « Day of shame »like the web magazine Sports & Politics it expressed. With 102, Mohannadi lost against 104 votes from participating national unions against the sitting Swedish chairman Petra Sörling, and didn’t pick it up. The tension rose rapidly, there was shouting and pushing and Sörling was hastily led away by staff of the Swedish embassy. « I didn’t feel safeSörling said the website insidethegames.biz. The election of a vice -president was postponed until further notice.

Mohannadi was previously discredited for buying voices and other dubious activities. Also a facet of the comprehensive leadership.

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