Sportswashing, Heat, USA
DBB defends controversial desert trip before the World Cup
08/17/2023 1:44 p.m
The World Cup dress rehearsal of the German basketball players is quite delicate. The association president expressly endorses the games in Abu Dhabi. The intense heat is also a challenge.
When the German Basketball Federation announced its unusual trip to the Persian Gulf, Ingo Weiss became almost euphoric. The president of the association was really jubilant about the venue for the World Cup dress rehearsal against Greece and the USA. “Abu Dhabi is an excellent location for such a top-class basketball event and is developing more and more into a real sports stronghold,” said Weiss in a small media round last week. The official meant – certainly also – the infrastructure including the ultra-modern Etihad Arena, which only opened in 2021.
But the desert trip of the German basketball players is anything but undisputed. Among others, the United Arab Emirates, whose capital is Abu Dhabi, have long been criticized for improving their image through high-class sporting events. The strong USA-sponsored weekend tournament is another such event. The point in this case: Germany has accepted an invitation from the World Cup favorites. Unlike major events, cancellation would have been possible without major sporting consequences.
But the Abu Dhabi package voted for the association for a number of reasons, sportswashing and human rights abuses in the region or not. The opponents are real endurance tests a few days before the World Cup, and Abu Dhabi is also conveniently located on the route from Germany and to the Japanese World Cup preliminary round venue Okinawa. “In the back of your mind you always think of the political situation. Ultimately, however, the sporting aspect is decisive for us. When do you get the chance to play a tournament like this with the USA?” said DBB Vice President Armin Andres. “It’s an honor for us when the US says we’re an interesting market for basketball.”
No muzzle for Schröder & Co.
For the games on Saturday against Greece and on Sunday against the USA (each 6 p.m. / Magentasport), the team around captain Dennis Schröder should not receive any guidelines for possible political statements. “All of our basketball players are of age, I don’t muzzle anyone. If anyone says they want to say something about one or the other problem area, then they’re welcome to do so,” Weiss said on ntv.de’s request. He explicitly included himself. “I have zero inhibitions about doing or pushing that in one place or another.”
It’s not just politics that make the trip to Abu Dhabi tricky. Sport and health are also in the spotlight ahead of the World Cup opener on August 25 against co-hosts Japan. It is courageous to schedule the last test game against the USA, because against the ensemble of successful coach Steve Kerr, which is peppered with NBA stars, a serious defeat can threaten at any time. That the game on Sunday ends as devastatingly as the 57:106 defeat at the 2008 Olympics is virtually impossible. While Schröder and Co. came third with a lot of self-confidence, the USA had to do without numerous stars. The really big names from the NBA are missing.
Another challenge will be the climate. Temperatures of up to 44 degrees prevail in Abu Dhabi, while the interior rooms are air-conditioned diligently. “Of course that will be a challenge. You have to make sure that you don’t get a problem because of the extreme heat and the air conditioning,” said Vice President Andres. Staying healthy is “the biggest challenge” for the days in the Persian Gulf.