Ultimate 'Greenwash'

Saudi Arabia is diversifying. This country (and others in a similar position) are using their extraordinary accumulated petrochemical wealth to invest in sports and tourism. This has been dismissed as spending billions on 'sportswashing' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/26/revealed-saudi-arabia-6bn-spend-on-sportswashing). I have a slightly different 'take' on this. Oil and gas extraction do have an increasingly bad image. Petrochemicals are the major generators of 'greenhouse gases' (both carbon dioxide and methane), driving global heating (stop calling it 'warming') and climate change. I don't, however, think that 'diversifying' into sports will be an effective, long-term form of 'greenwash'. Sports (especially International competitions) all have enormous carbon footprints. Emissions are generated by building infrastructure (stadia and tracks), transporting the competitors plus their teams/equipment and bringing 'fans', 'celebrities' and the media to and from the events. Much of this travel is done by air on scheduled flights and private jets. In spite of FIFA's claims, there's no such thing as a 'carbon neutral' Soccer World Cup, when all the emissions are added up. The business model of most International sports, is always to expand their size and reach. Saudi Arabia is currently investing heavily in Soccer, Formula One racing and Golf. These might currently be perceived as being 'greener' than oil production. Surely this misconception can't last? The Saudis are 'trading' one source of mass 'greenhouse gas' emissions for another. Actually, of course, encouraging International sport, helps maintain the demand for jet fuel. It's a win-win for them.