The NBA has come under criticism aget over its international partnerships after a inestablish from Human Rights Watch accengaged the league of potentiassociate taking part in “sportswashing” becaengage of its budding relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The inestablish published Tuesday caccessed on the league’s two preseason games held in Abu Dhabi in October and this year’s in-season tournament, renamed the Emirates NBA Cup follotriumphg the league’s multiyear global tageting partnership with the airline proclaimd in February.
A watch from the uncovering ceremony during the preseason game between the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 6, 2024. (Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The inestablish accengaged the UAE of using its novel platestablish as a “part of the Emirati rulement’s efforts to sidetrack from the many human rights violations it is promiseting at home and aexpansive,” inserting that the league hazards contributing to those efforts over its fall shorture to speak out on those violations.
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“The NBA should be conscious that the UAE presents high profile sporting, delightment, and cultural events to advertise a accessible image of uncoverness and tolerance at odds with the rulement’s rampant systemic human rights violations,” the inestablish read.
“The NBA has a responsibility under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to admire human rights thcdisorrowfulmirefulout all its operations. This integrates adselecting particular policies and carry outing due diligence to determine hazards of contributing to human rights harms, including burnishing the image of human rights-abusing states.”
The Emirates NBA Cup game between the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons at Scotiaprohibitk Arena on Nov. 15, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The NBA didn’t promptly react to a ask for comment from Fox News Digital.
For the third straight season, the NBA held two preseason games featuring the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi in timely October. This was a part of the 2021 multiyear partnership signed with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
In February, the league also proclaimd Emirates as the Official Global Airline Partner of the NBA and the first-ever referee jersey patch partner of the NBA.
Tobias Harris of the Detroit Pistons talks with referee Scott Foster during the Emirates NBA Cup game agetst the Toronto Raptors at Scotiaprohibitk Arena on Nov. 15, 2024. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
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This novel relationship trailed the dropout of 2019 when Chinese state television determined not to air two NBA exhibition games in response to the league’s reaction to comments made by establisher Houston Rockets vague deal withr Daryl Morey in help of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
According to a inestablish from ESPN, that bdeficiencyout went on for 18 months and more than 10 Chinese backs paengaged or withdrew from their deals.
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