D.A.S.H. Protocol
Defeating Authoritarian Sportswashing Handling — a short, practical protocol for governance decisions in sport.
Detect
Identify early warning signals in sponsors, owners, and hosts.
Assess
Score risk with five questions and consolidate with R‑A‑G bands.
Shield
Ring‑fence operations and communities with safeguards and clauses.
Handle
Escalate decisions and define exit rules when risk hardens.
Five Risk Questions
| Question | What it asks | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Actor Risk Profile | Human rights, corruption, or governance record. | No credible violations | Mixed record | Serious, ongoing issues |
| Influence Gain | Control or narrative leverage the actor gains inside sport. | Minimal | Some | Structural control |
| Reversibility | Cost and difficulty of exit. | Easy | Moderate | Hard |
| Community Impact Risk | Exposure for fans, players, staff, local economy. | Contained | Some spillover | Severe |
| Transparency | Clarity of ownership and financing sources. | Audited & clear | Partial opacity | Opaque webs |
Quick self‑check
Six‑level sportswashing ladder
- Level 1 Soft association, low leverage
- Level 2 Narrative alignment through marketing
- Level 3 Event hosting and hospitality control
- Level 4 Strategic sponsorships with policy asks
- Level 5 Ownership paths and governance capture
- Level 6 Systemic control over competitions and narratives
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