Fiche : Sportswashing : quand le sport redore une image (Tle)

Anglais	Français
sportswashing	le « sportswashing », le blanchiment d'image par le sport
Some governments host major sporting events to improve their image.	Certains gouvernements accueillent de grands événements sportifs pour améliorer leur image.
It distracts attention from human rights abuses.	Ça détourne l'attention des violations des droits humains.
soft power: influence through culture and sport	le soft power : l'influence par la culture et le sport
It is argued that boycotts punish athletes, not governments.	On fait valoir que les boycotts punissent les sportifs, pas les gouvernements.
Should athletes speak out?	Les sportifs devraient-ils prendre la parole ?

Le terme sportswashing (sur le modèle de whitewashing, « blanchir ») désigne l'utilisation du sport par des États ou des régimes pour améliorer leur réputation : accueillir une Coupe du monde ou des Jeux, racheter un grand club de football, sponsoriser des compétitions. C'est une forme de soft power (influence par l'attractivité). Les critiques estiment que cela détourne l'attention (distracts attention) des atteintes aux droits humains (human rights abuses). Faut-il boycotter ? Les sportifs doivent-ils s'exprimer (speak out) ? Le passif impersonnel permet de présenter des arguments : It is argued / claimed / often said that...

Mise en situation : le débat

Teacher : What does "sportswashing" mean?

Que signifie « sportswashing » ?

Nathan : It's when a country uses sport to clean up its image, for example by hosting a World Cup or buying a famous club.

C'est quand un pays utilise le sport pour soigner son image, par exemple en accueillant une Coupe du monde ou en achetant un club célèbre.

Teacher : Why is it criticised?

Pourquoi est-ce critiqué ?

Priya : Because it distracts attention from human rights abuses. Fans talk about the matches, not about the workers who built the stadiums.

Parce que ça détourne l'attention des violations des droits humains. Les supporters parlent des matchs, pas des ouvriers qui ont construit les stades.

Nathan : But it's sometimes argued that big events put a spotlight on a country and can push it to change.

Mais on fait parfois valoir que les grands événements braquent les projecteurs sur un pays et peuvent le pousser à changer.

Teacher : And should athletes speak out?

Et les sportifs devraient-ils prendre la parole ?

Priya : They have a huge audience, so their voice matters. But we can't expect them to solve political problems on their own.

Ils ont un énorme public, donc leur voix compte. Mais on ne peut pas attendre d'eux qu'ils résolvent seuls des problèmes politiques.

À retenir

sportswashing, soft power, a major event, a stadium, a club, human rights, abuses, a boycott, an athlete, a spotlight.
It is argued / often said that... (passif impersonnel) ; by + V-ing ; to distract attention from ; to put a spotlight on ; to speak out ; We can't expect them to...

Exercice 1 : Le sportswashing : exercice 1 (QCM)

« accueillir un grand événement »
1. to host a major event
2. to host a mayor event
3. to welcome a big event of
« détourner l'attention de »
1. to distract attention from
2. to distract attention of
3. to detract attention to
« les violations des droits humains »
1. humans rights uses
2. human right abusing
3. human rights abuses
« On fait valoir que... »
1. It argues that...
2. It is argued that...
3. One is argued that...
« prendre la parole, s'exprimer »
1. to speak out
2. to speak outside
3. to speak off
« braquer les projecteurs sur »
1. to put a spotlight in
2. to put spotlights to
3. to put a spotlight on
« en accueillant une Coupe du monde »
1. by hosting a World Cup
2. by host a World Cup
3. in hosting a World Cup of
« On ne peut pas attendre d'eux qu'ils... »
1. We can't wait them to...
2. We can't expect that they to...
3. We can't expect them to...
« un boycott »
1. a buy-cott
2. a boy cot
3. a boycott
« l'influence par la culture et le sport »
1. soft power
2. smooth power
3. soft strength

Exercice 2 : Le sportswashing : exercice 2 (à compléter)

What does "sportswashing" .......................... ?
A country uses sport to clean .......................... its image.
for example by .......................... a World Cup (host)
Why is it .......................... ?
It distracts attention .......................... human rights abuses.
the workers who .......................... the stadiums (build)
It's sometimes .......................... that big events can push a country to change.
Big events put a .......................... on a country.
Should athletes speak .......................... ?
We can't .......................... them to solve political problems.

Exercice 3 : Le sportswashing : mise en situation

Que signifie « sportswashing » ?
1. What does "sportswashing" mean?
2. What means "sportswashing"?
3. What does "sportswashing" means?
Un pays utilise le sport pour soigner son image.
1. A country uses sport to clean up it's image.
2. A country use sport to clean up its image.
3. A country uses sport to clean up its image.
Pourquoi est-ce critiqué ?
1. Why is it criticised?
2. Why is it criticise?
3. Why it is criticised?
Ça détourne l'attention des violations des droits humains.
1. It distracts attention of human rights abuses.
2. It distracts attention from human rights abuses.
3. It distract attention from human rights abuses.
les ouvriers qui ont construit les stades
1. the workers who builded the stadiums
2. the workers who built the stadiums
3. the workers which built the stadiums
On fait parfois valoir que...
1. It sometimes argues that...
2. It's sometimes argued that...
3. It's sometimes arguing that...
Les sportifs devraient-ils prendre la parole ?
1. Should athletes speak off?
2. Do athletes should speak out?
3. Should athletes speak out?
Leur voix compte.
1. Their voice matter.
2. Their voice matters.
3. There voice matters.
On ne peut pas attendre d'eux qu'ils résolvent seuls les problèmes.
1. We can't expect them solving the problems on their own.
2. We can't expect them to solve the problems on their own.
3. We can't expect they to solve the problems alone of.
C'est une forme de soft power.
1. It's a form of soft powers.
2. It's a form of soft power.
3. It's a shape of soft power.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. a) to host a major event · 2. a) to distract attention from · 3. c) human rights abuses · 4. b) It is argued that... · 5. a) to speak out · 6. c) to put a spotlight on · 7. a) by hosting a World Cup · 8. c) We can't expect them to... · 9. c) a boycott · 10. a) soft power

Exercice 2

1. mean · 2. up · 3. hosting · 4. criticised · 5. from · 6. built · 7. argued · 8. spotlight · 9. out · 10. expect

Exercice 3

1. a) What does "sportswashing" mean? · 2. c) A country uses sport to clean up its image. · 3. a) Why is it criticised? · 4. b) It distracts attention from human rights abuses. · 5. b) the workers who built the stadiums · 6. b) It's sometimes argued that... · 7. c) Should athletes speak out? · 8. b) Their voice matters. · 9. b) We can't expect them to solve the problems on their own. · 10. b) It's a form of soft power.