Determined to overcome his country's geographical disadvantages, Kagame has relentlessly pursued a political, diplomatic and economic strategy to make Rwanda an African heavyweight. Like them, Rwanda has faced criticism that it is using sport to distract attention from a checkered human rights record. Both Rwanda and its international sporting partners have faced accusations that they are using sport to divert attention from Kagame's rights record, a practice known as "sportswashing." The prospect of a Rwandan F1 race has renewed such criticism. Infantino has steered the men's 2034 World Cup hosting rights toward Saudi Arabia.
