From sports transformation to sportswashing stereotype in Saudi Arabia: focus on lessons for African development

Sports in recent times is nolonger a source of entertainment and social peace but it has grown into a strong driver of international labour migration, tourism and economic transformation. Recently, many countries of the globe have been making efforts to transform their economy through practical investments in the area of sports. This study focuses on the outstanding transformations that have been championed by the Saudi Government in the area of sports investments, which a number of analysists have stereotyped as sportswashing. The study used secondary literature to develop its content and presented its findings on how sports have locally and internationally advanced the national and international image of Saudi Arabia thematically. It recommends that African countries must follow suit in the quest to transform her mineral resource based economy through sports in line with the sports wonders going on in the Kingdom.