Journalists cannot allow World Cup to 'sportswash' Qatar's human-rights abuses

This is a column by Shireen Ahmed, who writes opinion for CBC Sports. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

Just before leaving the storied CBC radio program As It Happens in February, celebrated journalist Carol Off told Matt Galloway of The Current that she believes journalists telling stories from a lens of human rights and justice "is not a bias, it's an obligation". 

The job of a journalist is to report fairly and accurately. And it is to examine and question the difficult and report on what is there.

I love sports and I love journalism. That means that my job as a sports journalist and columnist is something I am proud of. It also means that within the world of sports that I do love, there will be situations that are unpleasant, difficult and complex. I have written about athlete activism, sexism, racism and how politics are inextricably linked to sport.

At the same time, I revel in glorious tournaments, enjoy the thrill of competition and the journeys of victors, but also appreciate the grief and sadness of losses.

As a lifelong soccer player and someone with expertise and understanding of global football, being critical of the systems in which sport exists is part of my job — be it in Canada or overseas. 

Idris Elba, a handsome and charming actor, last week hosted the shiny and glamourous men's World Cup draw in Doha, Qatar ahead of the tournament in November.  

As much as I appreciate football stars and football media personalities, I also had questions about the darker side of the event. Sportswashing is when countries that have deplorable human-rights records use sports or mega-events to clean their global reputation. They use the vent as a type of shield from criticism and