From the Wikithang: [bLOCKQUOTE]Sportswashing is the practice of an individual, group, corporation, or government using sport to improve their tarnished reputation, through hosting a sporting event, the purchase or sponsorship of sporting teams, or by participation in the sport itself. At the international level, sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from poor human rights records and corruption scandals; at the individual or corporate level, sportswashing may be used to cover up vices, crimes, or scandals. Sportswashing is an example of reputation laundering.[/bLOCKQUOTE]