US Senate Challenges Rwanda’s $7 Million NBA Partnership After Formula One and Football Deals

US Senate challenges Rwanda’s $7 million NBA partnership after country lands Formula One and major football deals

Rwanda’s growing ambitions to position itself as a global sports destination have secured partnerships with Formula 1 and some of Europe’s biggest football clubs. But its commercial relationship with the National Basketball Association (NBA) is facing renewed scrutiny from two US senators over the country’s role in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rwanda’s army team removed from BAL after US sanctions, NBA says

In the letter to the NBA dated 23 October, Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican counterpart Marsha Blackburn gave the association until 2 November to give a written response regarding its continued partnership with Rwanda. “What is the NBA red line for accepting money from foreign governments that commit human rights abuses?” the senators asked. […]

US Senate challenges Rwanda’s $7 million NBA partnership after Formula One and football deals

US Senate challenges Rwanda’s $7 million NBA partnership after Formula One and football deals Two bipartisan US senators have pressed the NBA to reconsider its commercial relationship with Rwanda, warning that the league risks becoming complicit in “sportswashing” amid the country’s alleged role in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Democratic Senator […] The post US Senate challenges Rwanda’s $7 million NBA partnership afte…

NBA stands by Rwanda deal, tells US senators it simply follows Washington’s lead - Rwanda Dispatch

The NBA is not walking away from Rwanda. In a letter to two US senators who urged it to rethink the relationship, the league’s deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum, said its approach to doing business abroad rests on one principle: it takes its cue from US government policy. The letter, dated this week, answers Senators Jeff […] The post NBA stands by Rwanda deal, tells US senators it simply follows Washington’s lead appeared first on Rwanda Dispatch…