Formula 1
Grand Prix in Delhi India
New Delhi, June 14. The
Indian Olympic Association has reached an agreement with Formula One boss
Bernie Ecclestone to stage a Grand Prix in New Delhi by 2009. Though motorsports
do not come under the purview of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA),
the apex sports body in the country is now dreaming big to bring Formula
One racing to India. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi today released a letter
he received from chief executive officer of Formula One group Bernie Ecclestone,
informing him to “confirm” a letter of intent regarding the organisation
of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of India, to be staged as a round of the FIA
Formula One World Championship in 2009 in Delhi.
Kalmadi made it clear that
the letter was not an allotment offer to the IOA, but just a proposal to
explore the possibilities of holding the mega event in Delhi.
Ecclestone’s letter to Kalmadi,
dated June 1, 2007, has noted that “the IOA will support the move to get
the infrastructure ready for hosting the event.”
He said “it will be the IOA’s
responsibility to get the support of the Central Government/Delhi Government
and other government agencies to get a circuit constructed at a site which
is acceptable to the Formula One Administration Limited (FOA).”
The letter further states
that the “IOA will be the promoter of the event and it will be its responsibility
to raise the necessary financing, whether through government or private
funds (or combination thereof).”
Kalmadi said the IOA was
confident of raising the needed funds, running into billions, to organise
the F-1 event, though he lamented later that the Union Sports Ministry
was not releasing funds for the training of sportspersons for the 2010
Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
IOA’s Formula One dream was
apparently kindled by liquor baron Vijay Mallaya, who had recently announced
that given a chance, he would organise an F-1 race on the grand vista of
Delhi — the Rajpath.
But Kalmadi said if Delhi
got to host the F-1 event, it would be held in a stadium, and three venues
had already been identified for the purpose, though he declined to name
these.
The IOA would have to shell
out huge amounts to do the preparatory work as Ecclestone has made it clear
in his letter that “you and I will identify and finalise the selection
of land and Tilke Associates will visit and conduct the initial design
phase (at the IOA’s cost) in consultation with me and subject to my approval”
and that the IOA will promote the first event in 2009.
The formalities for proceeding
with this project and a “suitable standby letter of credit” are to be concluded
not later than September 30, 2009.
Kalmadi said if India hosted
an F-1 event, it would not only boost tourism in the country, but also
generate funds to promote Olympic sports.
Kalmadi said the IOA Executive
Council, which met in the morning, approved the move to hold the F-1 event,
besides several proposals concerning Olympic sports.
The IOA seems to be getting
its fingers into too many pies before the Commonwealth Games as India is
scheduled to host the Commonwealth Youth Games at Pune in 2008, the World
Cup hockey in 2009, besides participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
and the second Afro-Asian Games.
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