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[[TV/web intro: U.S. lawmakers expressed concern Tuesday over a proposed merger between Saudi-backed LIV ((pronounced live)) Golf and the PGA tour, saying that if finalized, the deal could give Saudi Arabia an outsized role in American sports. VOA’s Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports on what Congress plans next.))
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUS CONGRESS Saudi Arabia (TV)
HEADLINE: US Lawmakers Look Into Possible PGA, LIV Golf Deal
TEASER: Critics say Saudi Arabia is “sportswashing” human rights record
PUBLISHED AT: 07/11/23 at 8p.m.
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson
PRODUCERS: Katherine Gypson
CONTRIBUTING:
DATELINE: Capitol Hill
VIDEOGRAPHER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Aru Pande, newhouse,
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, Reuters, VOA, AFP, LIVGolf.com
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:50
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
[[TV/web intro: U.S. lawmakers expressed concern Tuesday over a proposed merger between Saudi-backed LIV ((pronounced live)) Golf and the PGA tour, saying that if finalized, the deal could give Saudi Arabia an outsized role in American sports. VOA’s Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports on what Congress plans next.))
((Mandatory Courtesy: LIVGolf.com))((to be placed adjacent to the Reuters courtesy))
The planned deal between the Professional Golfers’ Association of America and the Saudi Arabian-backed Public Investment Fund would create a $620 billion public investment fund that US lawmakers say could severely restrict athletes’ free speech
((Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat))
“Athletes like the PGA Tour Golf players are role models. They are ambassadors of our values and the institutions that concern us today are vital to our national interest, to have them taken over by a repressive foreign regime certainly is a matter of our national security.”
((Narrator))
Families of the September 11th terrorist attack victims and human rights activists protesting the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi also oppose Saudi Arabia’s use of so-called “sportswashing” to try to repair its international reputation.
((Mandatory Courtesy: LIVGolf.com))((to be placed adjacent to the Reuters courtesy))
One extremism analyst told VOA sportswashing is an increasingly powerful tool for shaping public perceptions.
((Ben Freeman, Quincy Institute Research Fellow)) ((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
“They want Americans when they think of Saudi Arabia, not to think about the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, they want you thinking instead of golf, they want you thinking (of) professional soccer, or they want you thinking of the arts, any of the number of other things that they (Saudi Arabia) have invested in. They want to change the narrative.”
((Narrator))
But PGA representatives told lawmakers Tuesday the deal was the better choice in the face of litigation by the LIV.
((Jimmy Dunne, PGA Tour Board Member))
“My fear is if we don't get to an agreement, they're already putting billions of dollars into golf. They've got a management team that wants to destroy the tour.”
((Narrator))
And PGA officials assured lawmakers the final deal would keep the association under their control.
((Ron Price, PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer))
“The framework agreement contains important safeguards that ensure the tour will operate fundamentally as it does today. The tour will control its operations.”
Many Republican lawmakers argue the deal is between private entities and should not concern Congress.
((Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican))
“No amount of money can wash away the stain of the brutal Khashoggi assassination and other human rights abuses. But it would be grossly unfair to expect the PGA Tour to bear the full burden of holding Saudi Arabia accountable. After all, anyone who drives a car or uses oil-based products has helped fill the coffers of the Saudi public investment fund.
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory Courtesy: LIVGolf.com))((to be placed adjacent to the Reuters courtesy))
If the deal goes through and continues to concern U.S. lawmakers, Congress could revoke the PGA’s tax-exempt status and investigate possible anti-trust violations.
((Katherine Gypson, VOA News, Capitol Hill))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Capitol Hill
Embargo DateJuly 11, 2023 16:48 EDT
Byline
Katherine Gypson, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
