Isn't it time to ostracise Dubai?

[Kieran]

After this horrendous and unacceptable abuse of a woman who reported she'd been raped, and the Shahar Peer controversy a few years back, isn't this just a backward, bully state that should be thrown off the tennis calendar until it smartens up its human rights game?

 

[coban]

After this horrendous and unacceptable abuse of a woman who reported she'd been raped, and the Shahar Peer controversy a few years back, isn't this just a backward, bully state that should be thrown off the tennis calendar until it smartens up its human rights game?

After this incident i am personally boycotting Dubai and all of the Emirate states. And alot of my fellow Norwegian citizens are doing the same, quite a big uproar here. Business' are pulling out etc.

 

[Kieran]

After this incident i am personally boycotting Dubai and all of the Emirate states. And alot of my fellow Norwegian citizens are doing the same, quite a big uproar here. Business' are pulling out etc.

Quite right. They're no different to the crazy mullahs who got offended enough to kill when they read the funny pages of a Danish newspaper. Dubai is trendy among a certain affluent set of saps who close their eyes to this stuff, but the sport of tennis burnt itself very badly over the Peer incident and should use this fresh horror as a get-out of holding any further tournaments there...

 

[britbox]

Unfortunately, money tends to overrule morals in many cases. Sports in particular will look at the bottom line first.

 

[Riotbeard]

While these are inarguably disturbing things going on in dubai, arguments can be made about the horrible human rights records of many tennis countries, including the U.S. I do find the Shahar peer thing more disturbing (as it relates to tennis) in terms of whether or not a tournament should be there. Tennis is an international sport, if a tournament won't allow someone based on their nationality they should be allowed to hold a tournament.

 

[tented]

After this incident i am personally boycotting Dubai and all of the Emirate states. And alot of my fellow Norwegian citizens are doing the same, quite a big uproar here. Business' are pulling out etc.

Quite right. They're no different to the crazy mullahs who got offended enough to kill when they read the funny pages of a Danish newspaper. Dubai is trendy among a certain affluent set of saps who close their eyes to this stuff, but the sport of tennis burnt itself very badly over the Peer incident and should use this fresh horror as a get-out of holding any further tournaments there...

The WTA Dubai tournament begins February 17th next year, and the ATP the following week. If enough women boycott it, then maybe some of the men will, too.

I seem to remember Andy Roddick boycotting it during the Peer incident, but can't remember if anyone else did.

A key factor would be to get Federer involved, since he has a long history of training in Dubai, as well as playing in the tournament. With his high profile, if he were to shun them, then a lot of other things would quickly fall into place.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Unfortunately, money tends to overrule morals in many cases. Sports in particular will look at the bottom line first.

I was just going to right the same thing.. very straight and blunt to the point

 

[britbox]

Unfortunately, money tends to overrule morals in many cases. Sports in particular will look at the bottom line first.

I was just going to right the same thing.. very straight and blunt to the point

There was a time when a some governments put pressure on sports bodies not to play South Africa when they had the apartheid system in place. i.e. Official teams playing rugby, cricket etc.. from the UK were pressured into not playing the the South African national teams.

There were some "rebel tours" where unofficial teams made up of big stars still went. Money talked. Sadly.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

yup, i think unfortunately, money is the answer to why nothing ever happened (also, Qatar 2022, anyone?). i was disgusted back then by the Peer incident (and amazed with how she handled herself in 2010. her making the semis under these circumstances was unbelievable). still, there's little hope for change. and unfortunately, tented is right in that it would be Federer who really could/should work on a change in the tennis world's attitude to this (and other) regimes.

 

[britbox]

yup, i think unfortunately, money is the answer to why nothing ever happened (also, Qatar 2022, anyone?). i was disgusted back then by the Peer incident (and amazed with how she handled herself in 2010. her making the semis under these circumstances was unbelievable). still, there's little hope for change. and unfortunately, tented is right in that it would be Federer who really could/should work on a change in the tennis world's attitude to this (and other) regimes.

Quatar getting the world cup absolutely reeked of corruption.

Federer should have shown some solidarity and quit Dubai after the Peer incident.

 

[Kieran]

Quatar getting the world cup absolutely reeked of corruption.

Federer should have shown some solidarity and quit Dubai after the Peer incident.

Absolutely agree on both of these. But there's an elitist element in the west that likes to show its affluence by hobnobbing in Dubai.

And as for Qatar, Sepp Blatter has proposed, quite ingeniously, that that World Cup will be held in winter! And what about all the European leagues it affects?

Michel Platini has said it'll be no problem! :nono

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

to be quite honest, moving it to winter is the one thing i do like about Qatar. as for the affected leagues - while i think you islanders play all through the winter, a lot of european leagues have winter breaks anyway, so i think it'll be possible to make room. so it's nice that they start to realize that holding it there in summer, air-conditioning arenas and whatnot, would've been an eco-crime. and it'd be a nice break from the euro-centrism/northern hemisphere bias ("Summer Olympics" in Oz and now Brazil; world cup in South African winter, ... ). i wonder if South America will ever get a shot at a winter olympics, for example.


politically, of coures, whole other deal. another money-machine sport comes to mind, btw: Formula 1, who've never cared about anything going on outside of their racetrack. except for money, of course. they care about that. in fact, Bernie will have to explain to a German judge just how much the F1 cares about money

 

[britbox]

to be quite honest, moving it to winter is the one thing i do like about Qatar. as for the affected leagues - while i think you islanders play all through the winter, a lot of european leagues have winter breaks anyway, so i think it'll be possible to make room. so it's nice that they start to realize that holding it there in summer, air-conditioning arenas and whatnot, would've been an eco-crime. and it'd be a nice break from the euro-centrism/northern hemisphere bias ("Summer Olympics" in Oz and now Brazil; world cup in South African winter, ... ). i wonder if South America will ever get a shot at a winter olympics, for example.


politically, of coures, whole other deal. another money-machine sport comes to mind, btw: Formula 1, who've never cared about anything going on outside of their racetrack. except for money, of course. they care about that. in fact, Bernie will have to explain to a German judge just how much the F1 cares about money

Quatar was a joke choice JS - although I expect rather than finding a joke in their christmas crackers, FIFA officials were unwrapping little cheques.

It's in the middle of the Arabian desert, a banana republic with a population of 1.8 million. No doubt the peasants will be horsewhipped into the stadiums to fill the seats to make it look popular on TV.

I'm all for FIFA moving the world cup around, although I think Europe and South America should get it twice as often as anywhere else, but surely Japan or China with their large populaces and interest in the game would have been a far better choice when they considered the Asian market.

Yep, agree on the F1 also. Bernie should have jacked the Bahrain grand prix. F1 is swimming with money and his pockets must be dragging along the floor as it is.

 

[isabelle]

After this horrendous and unacceptable abuse of a woman who reported she'd been raped, and the Shahar Peer controversy a few years back, isn't this just a backward, bully state that should be thrown off the tennis calendar until it smartens up its human rights game?

You're absolutely right : those people have no respect for women and it's time to boycott the event

 

[joylan1]

People still whining about Peer? the girl can't even get past the 2nd round these days.. she is irrelevant..

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ you're right. since she's no top contender, we really shouldn't worry about her human rights or dignity.

 

[joylan1]

Certain people love to throw the word Human Rights around, since when is a Human right to play tennis? Why don't Peer do like the William sisters did and boycott Dubai.. Why should other players give up a paycheck and 7 star hotel accommodations because Israel can't get along with it's Arab neighbors...

 

[Kieran]

I wasn't aware that the William sisters boycotted Dubai. In fact, I think Venus went to play there that year, which was odd considering a fellow player had been singled out according to her race. Israel is like anybody living in a hostile territory: it's hard to smile at neighbours who are plotting your obliteration. Of course, you can't expect other players to put principles ahead of "a paycheck and 7 star hotel accommodations." I mean, that would be asking too much, wouldn't it? That they should have principles. Only Andy Roddick withdrew and criticised the tournament, which was what you'd expect from more players.

The human right isn't to play tennis, although I think that it should be, if you can afford it. It's a human right to be able to say you were raped and not be thrown into jail for adultery. Because of this, and other abuses, Dubai should be ostracised...

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

Certain people love to throw the word Human Rights around, since when is a Human right to play tennis? Why don't Peer do like the William sisters did and boycott Dubai.. Why should other players give up a paycheck and 7 star hotel accommodations because Israel can't get along with it's Arab neighbors...

it's a human right not to be discriminized against on the basis of race or nationality. it's ridiculous that i even have to spell that out. and i don't get you on the idea of Peer boycotting Dubai - if it's a joke, it's not a good one. i wonder why Rosa Parks didn't just 'boycot' the bus system by insisting on moving to the back of the bus. :nono

i'm trying not to wonder what you mean by "certain people".