Arab money continues to disrupt sport. To almost all sports. The penultimate one was surfing. The World League (WSL) of this modality has also succumbed to petrodollars, and has included Abu Dhabi in the championship for the next three years.
One of the big problems raised by the holding of sports competitions in the Arab Emirates is related to human rights. And that is where he wanted to influence Lilli Bakerwife of Australian surfer Tyler Wrighttwo-time world champion (2016 and 2017).
Baker, connoisseur of the harsh and inhuman legislation of Abu Dhabi regarding homosexual people published a clarifying text on its Instagram account:
«Two days ago the WLS released their 2025 season schedule. Unfortunately, homosexuality is illegal at one of the locations and my wife can legally be sentenced to death or prison if she attempts to attend. Tyler has competed in this championship for over 14 years and has had the Pride flag on her jersey since 2020. Even after winning 2 world titles, the WSL still does not value her enough to be considered when they sold this event (to Abu Dhabi). The WSL has a duty of care to its athletes to not put them in potentially life-threatening circumstances like this.
It has been a disturbing journey educating myself about the legality and history of LGBTQIA+ rights here and I doubt there is any ‘solution’. I would feel comfortable with the love of my life competing there. I see how hard my wife works every day in her profession and it is unreasonable to expect her to just not go. Your life is worth more than an event, but I cannot help but recognize that missing this event would be a great disadvantage for your career during the next three years in which you will travel to this place. Tyler’s homosexuality should not be a burden or obstacle in his workplace.
It is important for me to add that I am aware of my privilege as a white woman and I am not here to promote racism or to tell people from a different country and with different values how to manage their own legal system. However, I think it is necessary to mention that there is a country like this that is investing a lot of money into being an international destination for professional sports competitions, especially when they have such strict laws regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. After all, the WSL had no right to sell this event to this place hoping its only openly gay athlete would quietly let herself go.».
Except surprise, 14 to 16 of next Februarythe Surfing World Cup will be held in the innovative wave facility located on the island of Hudayriyat (Abu Dhabi). Because to the CEO of the WSL, Ryan Crosbydon’t seem to care much about those ‘legal’ issues: “We are excited to see what the Surf Abu Dhabi facility can offer to the best surfers in the world, as well as the global surfing community. “Both the ever-evolving wave technology and the region itself present exciting opportunities for the WSL, and we look forward to seeing them materialize in the coming months.”
#terrible #warning #wife #lesbian #surfer #wife #sentenced #death #imprisoned
