Dr. Alan McDougall, a sport historian in the College of Arts, provided his thoughts to the Associated Press about El Salvador’s decision to host the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.

The country’s president has faced accusations that he’s using the Games as a form of “sportwashing.” McDougall commented that sportswashing often boosts a leader’s profile because athletic events are both highly visible and a distraction from daily problems. 

The article appeared in several publications, including on ABC News.

A professor in the Department of History, McDougall researches the history of sport, with an emphasis on soccer. His most recent book is Contested Fields: A Global History of Modern Football.