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Wuhan Open: Emma Raducanu retires in first round against Ann Li British number one Emma Raducanu looks devoid of energy and appears to struggle with the hot and humid conditions before retiring in China.

🚨 Raducano forced to retire ill in Wuhan Open's first round amid extreme 34C humid heat.

And guess who is sponsoring the climate-vulnerable tournament?

Yup - that's right - Saudi Arabia's O̶i̶l̶ Public Investment Fund. 🛢️🫰

The Fossil Free Declaration — Cool Down Launched by the Cool Down - Sport For Climate Action Network, the Declaration is a pledge for sports organisations, athletes, and fans to demonstrate climate leadership by rejecting sponsorships and c...

While petrostates and polluting companies can use a booming industry like esports to normalise their harmful products, they will.

✍️ If you want to see sport and esport free from polluters, sign the Fossil Free Declaration. 6/6

e-Sportswashing: how big polluters are gaming a new sport sponsorship market — Cool Down Since just 2017, at least 33 polluting sponsorship deals have been struck between the global esports industry and high-carbon polluters. Of these, 27 have been deals with car manufacturers, five with ...

But why is Saudi Arabia pumping so much oil money into esports?

To launder its reputation on the world stage.

For an authoritarian, fossil-fuelled superpower, it’s far better to be linked with Pikachu than with pollution.

Read our full report. 👇 5/6

Saudi Investment Fund pays $3.5bn to capture Pokémon Go It is amongst the highest-grossing mobile games in the world, with 30 million monthly players.

And it doesn't stop there.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia also bought the gaming division of Niantic - which included acquiring Pokemon Go - for $3.5bn. 4/6

Since publishing our report 'eSportswashing' last year, Saudi Arabia has pushed ahead with its takeover of the world of esports and gaming.

Most worryingly, the petrostate has brokered a 12 year deal with the International Olympic Committee to host the Olympic Esports Games. 🤨 3/6

Big polluters targeting esports industry with advertising deals, report reveals Oil firms, petrostates, airlines and carmakers ‘doubling down’ on sector that is popular with young people

This is the largest leveraged buyout in history, funded primarily by borrowed money.

But the scale of the takeover reveals a concerning undercurrent: the flood of oil money into the world of esports and gaming. 🛢️🎮 2/6

Gaming giant Electronic Arts bought in unprecedented $55bn deal EA is known for making best-selling games such as EA FC, The Sims and Mass Effect.

🚨 Last week, EA was sold for a massive $55bn (£41bn).

The buyers?

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a private equity firm and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

The world of gaming is fast becoming a wild west for polluter advertising and sponsorship. 🧵 1/6

The Fossil Free Declaration - An Open Letter from Climbers Below is an open letter from active and former professional climbers in support of the Fossil Free Declaration, calling for a high-carbon advertising ban. The letter will be sent to national and climb...

The Fossil Free Declaration is a way for fans, athletes and sports organisations to build power against polluting sponsors in sport.

Join the call for clean sport. And if you're a professional climber or climbing organisation, sign the open letter 👉

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Katherine Choong signed the open letter urging climbing federations and other pro climbers to take a stand against polluting sponsorship. 🧗

The letter - released during the IFSC World Championships in Seoul - is part the Fossil Free Declaration. ✍️

Read more below 👇

Anna Turney - Why I've joined the Fossil Free Declaration — Cool Down In the latest instalment of our Fossil Free Declaration interview series, Paralympic alpine skier Anna Turney discusses why she is speaking out for climate action and lending her voice to protect the ...

In the latest instalment of our Fossil Free Declaration interview series, we speak to one of Britain’s most accomplished Paralympic skiers, Anna Turney.

Away from the slopes, Anna is equally dedicated to protecting the natural world.

Full interview 👇

www.cooldownclimate.org/latest/anna-...

The Fossil Free Declaration — Cool Down Launched by the Cool Down - Sport For Climate Action Network, the Declaration is a pledge for sports organisations, athletes, and fans to demonstrate climate leadership by rejecting sponsorships and c...

Football players and fans are suffering from greedy decision makers putting profits over player and planetary safety.

Encourage your favourite player to sign the Fossil Free Declaration and join call for clean sponsorship in the beautiful game. ✍️👇 7/7

FIFPRO highlights the tension between player health and profit, but not the link between polluting sponsors and extreme heat.

Even FIFA is now backed by the world’s largest fossil fuel company, Aramco.

And, sadly, polluting sponsors are everywhere in elite football. 💰💨 6/7

"Where pre-season was once primarily about fitness, tactical preparation, and team cohesion, it has now become heavily shaped by brand expansion, sponsorship commitments, and revenue generation."

In the report, footballers point out how profit is being put before players. 5/7

Heat stress and extreme weather threaten 2026 World Cup, report finds The 2026 World Cup could be North America’s last without urgent climate adaptation, according to a new study highlighting extreme weather threats

Beyond calling for better safety precautions for players, the report also draws attention to the 2026 World Cup.

Six of the 16 host cities for next year's World Cup are classed as “extreme risk” for heat illness. 4/7

In the FIFPro report, footballers highlight the dangerous temperatures they were frequently expected to play in during the controversial Club World Cup this year.

Four games exceeded the temperature threshold at which the human body is unable to cool itself down by sweating. 3/7

World’s major cities hit by 25% leap in extremely hot days since the 1990s Capitals from London to Tokyo need urgent action to protect people from deadly high temperatures, analysts say

📢 Today, new analysis shows the world’s biggest cities now face 25% more extremely hot days each year than in the 1990s.

For footballers expected to perform at the highest levels in open air city stadiums, this temperature increase is dangerous. 2/7

FIFPRO on WC high temps: We await FIFA meeting Global footballers' union FIFPRO is still waiting for talks with FIFA over match scheduling at the 2026 World Cup after voicing concerns over excessive heat during this summer's Club World Cup in the ...

🚨 Scathing new report from footballers' union, FIFPRO, about the ever-growing football calendar and extreme temperatures.

What's missing?

A reflection on the commercial forces that are creating impactful schedules and temperatures. 💡🧵 1/7

"Where pre-season was once primarily about fitness, tactical preparation, and team cohesion, it has now become heavily shaped by brand expansion, sponsorship commitments, and revenue generation."

In the report, footballers point out how profit is being put before players. 5/7

Heat stress and extreme weather threaten 2026 World Cup, report finds The 2026 World Cup could be North America’s last without urgent climate adaptation, according to a new study highlighting extreme weather threats

Beyond calling for better safety precautions for players, the report also draws attention to the 2026 World Cup.

Six of the 16 host cities for next year's World Cup are classed as “extreme risk” for heat illness. 4/7

In the FIFPro report, footballers highlight the dangerous temperatures they were frequently expected to play in during the controversial Club World Cup this year.

Four games exceeded the temperature threshold at which the human body is unable to cool itself down by sweating. 3/7

World’s major cities hit by 25% leap in extremely hot days since the 1990s Capitals from London to Tokyo need urgent action to protect people from deadly high temperatures, analysts say

📢 Just today, new analysis revealed the world’s biggest cities now face 25% more extremely hot days each year than in the 1990s.

For footballers expected to perform at the highest levels in open air city stadiums, this temperature increase is dangerous. 2/7

Pro Climbers Urge IFSC to Swear Off Fossil Fuel Ties An open letter associated with the Cool Down network of sports for climate action asks the IFSC and climbers to swear off fossil fuel ties.

🚨BIG news 🚨

Climbing pioneers, rising talents and major orgs have signed an open letter urging climbing federations and other pro climbers to take a stand against polluting sponsorship. 🧵 1/7

Full story. 👇

The Fossil Free Declaration — Cool Down Launched by the Cool Down - Sport For Climate Action Network, the Declaration is a pledge for sports organisations, athletes, and fans to demonstrate climate leadership by rejecting sponsorships and c...

Momentum is building across sport for decision makers to distance themselves from polluters.

Join concerned fans and elite athletes today in calling for a fossil-free future for sports - sign the Fossil Free Declaration. 7/7

After criticism, Preem steps down as Vasaloppet sponsor After 17 years as a main sponsor, Preem has chosen not to extend its sponsorship with Vasaloppet.

Advocates are saying this decision sends a clear message across winter sports: fossil fuel sponsorship has no place in events that rely on the very environment such industries threaten. 6/7

Over 50 top skiers call for an end to fossil fuel advertising — Cool Down This week over 50 top skiers have signed an open letter calling for end to fossil fuel advertising at Vasaloppet .

And in February this year more than fifty elite skiers signed an open letter urging the race organisers to sever ties with the oil company.

They pointed out fossil fuel companies like Preem are directly melting the snow on which their sport depends. 5/7

Vasaloppet tinar bort – stoppa fossilreklamen 55 toppåkare: Tiden är knapp att rädda vår älskade skidåkning

The move follows months of mounting public pressure from elite athletes and fans, with a spring 2025 Novus opinion poll revealing a majority of Swedes wanting Vasaloppet to stop advertising for Preem. 4/7

Sport, Climate & Human Rights

Iconic sports institutions have a responsibility to shape sustainable practices.

And while polluters are still taking up space on the playing field, the end of Preem's sponsorship reflects the public’s growing concern about climate change in sports. 3/7

And Vasaloppet is not just any race — it is a cultural institution across Scandinavia.

With tens of thousands of skiers participating, its sponsorships are highly visible and influential - making the move to part ways with Preem especially impactful. 2/7

📖: www.viasport.com/en/cross-cou...

Turning Point for Winter Sports as Preem Ends Vasaloppet Sponsorship — Cool Down Photo: Ulf Palm/TT

Vasaloppet, one of the world's most prestigious cross-country ski races, have officially parted ways with oil company Preem after 17 years of partnership.

This signals a significant shift in the discussion around fossil fuel sponsors in winter sports. 🧵 1/7