Nathan Domon

The World Cup has been used for propaganda long before him. The 1934 World Cup in fascist Italy is often regarded as one of the first major sporting events to be used as a propaganda tool. By then, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had been in power for more than a decade and promoted sport as a way to unite the nation, forge disciplined citizens, and glorify fascism. As football exploded in popularity across Europe in the early 1930s, Mussolini saw an opportunity.

Beyond the glamour, the Cannes Film Festival is also a political stage, and this year is no exception. On the eve of the festival's opening ceremony last week, 600 film industry figures signed a petition denouncing ”the growing control of the far-right” over French cinema, targeting media giant Canal+.

We need Eurovision more than you think This year, because Israel is participating despite the genocide in Gaza, several countries have refused to send a representative to the hosting city of Vienna. Others won’t broadcast the show. And many Europeans are choosing not to watch. The controversy is overshadowing everything. Eurovision has always been political. Countries have boycotted, others have been excluded, or used the stage to send political messages.