The Bahraini Government's Efforts To Improve Bahrain's National Image Through Hosting Formula One (2022-2024)

Laily Rahmadini; Mansur Juned

doi:10.38142/jtep.v6i3.2076

Authors

Laily Rahmadini Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia
Mansur Juned Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38142/jtep.v6i3.2076

Keywords:

Sports Diplomacy, Nation Branding, Bahrain, Formula One, Sportswashing

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the Bahraini government's efforts to improve the country's national image through hosting Formula One during the 2022-2024 period amid international scrutiny of the country's human rights situation. The study employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data were collected through a literature review and written interviews with three informants. The data were analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, and were then interpreted using the concepts of sports diplomacy, nation branding, and sportswashing. The findings show that the Bahraini government pursued two forms of effort through hosting Formula One at the international and domestic levels. At the international level, these efforts involved establishing and maintaining relations with actors within the Formula One environment through the continued hosting of the Bahrain Grand Prix and long-term cooperation. At the domestic level, the efforts involved managing the hosting of Formula One in integration with government policies and the tourism agenda, which were analyzed through the Governance and Tourism dimensions. These efforts took place alongside international scrutiny of the human rights situation and the emergence of sportswashing allegations. The findings indicate that Formula One was utilized as an instrument to support the Bahraini government's efforts to improve the country's national image, while this use of the event continued to take place within a critical international perceptual environment.

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