Saudi Crown Prince: I don't care about sportswashing accusations

 

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he does not care when he is accused of sportswashing.

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sports at home and abroad - especially for the past two years - and that has led to accusations that the high-profile strategy is designed to launder the nation's reputation and deflect attention away from its poor human rights record.

But speaking to Fox News in a rare television interview, Bin Salman said: "If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by one per cent, then we'll continue sportswashing.

"I don't care. I have one per cent growth in GDP from sport and I am aiming for another 1.5 per cent.

"Call it whatever you want - we are going to get that 1.5 per cent."