sportswash means an incidence of sportswashing. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 92 out of 100.
Etymology
From sports + -wash.
noun
- An incidence of sportswashing
verb
- To use sporting events to improve a polity's reputation, especially to distract from human rights abuses.“Asked how he would feel if the event was part of a move to "sportswash" over wrongdoing, he said: "If that was the case I would definitely have to say I would be bothered – but my only focus is the boxing."”