Ahead of the start of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah on November 28 and as discussions continue over hosting WTA tournaments in Saudi Arabia, Adam Addicott examines the implications for the sport of seizing expansion opportunities in a country where LGBT+ people are criminalized. …
By Adam Addicotteditor-in-chief of Ubitennis.net UNITED KINGDOM
“I’ve never seen change without commitment.” These are the words of one of the world’s first openly gay athletes on the complex subject of hosting sporting events in Saudi Arabia.
Billie Jean King was instrumental in the development of women’s tennis throughout her life and was a pioneer for LGBT+ athletes.
In 1981, she was outed by the media after her former girlfriend, Marilyn Barnett, revealed her sexuality during a lawsuit suing her for financial support.
As a result, King lost all of his sponsorship deals due to the hostility towards the LGBT+ community during this time. By an unfortunate coincidence, Martina Navratilova also experienced a similar ordeal during the same year.
Given his own experience, King’s views on the expansion of tennis in Saudi Arabia generate mixed opinions. In this Middle Eastern country, homosexual relations are not codified by law. However, Saudi Arabia draws its legal framework from Sharia (Islamic law) which prohibits homosexuality.
“70% of the population is under 30 years old. From everyone I listen to, from what I understand, these young people want change. » King recently told the Tennis Podcast.
“We wouldn’t have all these things we have without going where I’m really afraid to go. Like facing fears.
“All I know is that I have never seen change without commitment. Things won’t do anything if someone doesn’t resist.
As a sports writer, I have covered LGBT+ topics in tennis on several occasions. There is something curious about the belief or hope that a sport arriving in a country will change its culture. Historically, this has not had a substantial impact.
In 2022, many people have expressed concerns about hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to their anti-LGBT+ laws, as well as other human rights concerns. However, tennis events have been held in the country since 1993.
An ATP 250 tournament is regularly organized there and the prestigious WTA finals took place in Doha between 2008 and 2010. During these 30 years, tennis has not improved the rights of LGBT+ people there. In fact, unlike the World Cup, there was virtually no discussion on the subject.
“The two are not comparable in that the (tennis) tournaments in the Middle East are nowhere near as prestigious or as prestigious as the men’s World Cup,” he added. Pride In Tennis founder Ian Pearson-Brown told me earlier this year.
“The process is also very different from that of FIFA to allocate the zone which will host the World Cup. In turn, the LTA is working with the ATP to ensure that all LGBTQ+ athletes are properly supported to create a healthier environment for players to play as themselves. I would therefore refrain from making comparisons,” he added.
This is not to say that King is wrong or that there is no desire for change in the Middle East. I remember talking to a member of the Saudi Tennis Federation about LGBT+ visitors to the region. They assured me that everyone would be welcome and that if I wanted to bring a partner of the same sex, that would be fine.
However, the problem was that I had to respect the culture by not publicly showing that we were a couple. A concept similar to that of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which was implemented in the American army.
Of course, it will be different for any LGBT+ player who is unlikely to be threatened if he plays in Saudi Arabia. They will no doubt be protected by sporting organizations and closely monitored by the world’s media – which must frustrate those who are LGBT+ and live in Saudi Arabia.
“All LGBT+ players are wise enough not to provoke anything and not hold hands when we are not at the (tennis) club,” Openly gay player Greet Minnen told me at Wimbledon this year.
“I think we have to respect the culture there, but that won’t be a problem because the WTA will make sure it’s a safe environment for us.
“If Saudi Arabia is willing to put more tournaments on the calendar, I think that’s great.”
There are other LGBT+ players like Nadia Podoroska who do not share the same point of view as Minnen. Additionally, Navratilova spoke out against tennis coming to Saudi Arabia.
But it’s too little, too late. At the end of this month, Saudi Arabia will host its first ever ATP event, the Next Gen Finals.
Meanwhile, it appears that the Saudi Tennis Federation has expressed interest in hosting more events, including the WTA Finals. I understand that talks have taken place and more are to come.
From the perspective of an LGBT+ sports writer, this question is difficult to digest. Is it wrong to demand that all events not take place in countries with anti-LGBT+ laws or is it even more wrong to stand in the way of sports being able to help improve the cultural situation? Even if the chances are slim.
In my opinion, a tweet from Sky Sports presenter Mark McAdam perfectly sums up the difficult situation in Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in sport is here to stay. That doesn’t make it right, but people need to accept that it’s happening. F1, Tennis, Golf, Football, Boxing and much more to come. It will take a lifetime, if not more, to implement the rights demanded by part of the world,” he wrote.
Perhaps the most important thing is not to continue to oppose the inevitable migration of tennis to the Saudi market. Instead, the focus should be on holding Saudi Arabia accountable for its commitment to improving its human rights record, particularly regarding LGBT+ people.
For this to happen, it will be essential that the actors talk about these subjects. Will they choose to do so? Only time will tell.
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