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India has won the right to host its first Formula One race in 2009, officials announced Thursday.
The deal was struck to hold the event in the capital New Delhi, said Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association, which will promote the race.
"We have received a letter in this regard from Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One," Kalmadi told reporters.
Funds will be raised from the government and the private sector to build a new F1 track and stadium for the race, said Kalmadi.
"We are looking to identify suitable land for a world-class track," he said.
New Delhi is already preparing to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The city, however, lost its bid to organise the 2014 Asian Games and opted out of the race for the 2016 Olympics.
Kalmadi said he was confident the IOA will meet the financial and infrastructure proposals laid down by Ecclestone before the final contract is signed by the September 30 deadline.
"We are capable enough to raise the money. We have done it in the past. We will do it again," he said.
Asked why New Delhi was chosen as the venue, Kalmadi said: "The Commonwealth Games are coming up. So we will have the international airport, hotels and other infrastructure ready for this."
Formula One supremo Ecclestone has recently promoted India as one of the future markets for motor sport after home-grown Narain Karthikeyan drove for Jordan in the 2005 season.
"India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China," Ecclestone said in November.
There has been heightened interest in F1 racing in India after Karthikeyan hit the tracks on the back of Indian sponsorship reportedly worth 10 million dollars.
The 29-year-old did not race in 2006 but is signed up with Williams as a test driver.
Millions of Indians watch Formula One on television, often with the same passion they reserve for the country's most popular sport -- cricket.
There was no immediate reaction to the announcement from federal sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who has opposed the holding of expensive international sporting events in the country.
Aiyer, a former diplomat and ex-foreign ministry spokesman, had described the Asian Games bid as nothing more than a misguided attempt to improve the global image of the country.
The Indian media were sceptical about the prospect of holding a race in New Delhi.
"The capital is no place to have a F1 race because it does not have a culture for motor sports," said Sharda Ugra, sports editor of the respected India Today weekly.
"Places in south India like Bangalore or Chennai, where Karthikeyan and other drivers hail from, would have been better venues.
"It's more a business decision than a sporting one. The construction lobby will have a good time."
The deal was struck to hold the event in the capital New Delhi, said Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association, which will promote the race.
"We have received a letter in this regard from Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One," Kalmadi told reporters.
Funds will be raised from the government and the private sector to build a new F1 track and stadium for the race, said Kalmadi.
"We are looking to identify suitable land for a world-class track," he said.
New Delhi is already preparing to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The city, however, lost its bid to organise the 2014 Asian Games and opted out of the race for the 2016 Olympics.
Kalmadi said he was confident the IOA will meet the financial and infrastructure proposals laid down by Ecclestone before the final contract is signed by the September 30 deadline.
"We are capable enough to raise the money. We have done it in the past. We will do it again," he said.
Asked why New Delhi was chosen as the venue, Kalmadi said: "The Commonwealth Games are coming up. So we will have the international airport, hotels and other infrastructure ready for this."
Formula One supremo Ecclestone has recently promoted India as one of the future markets for motor sport after home-grown Narain Karthikeyan drove for Jordan in the 2005 season.
"India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China," Ecclestone said in November.
There has been heightened interest in F1 racing in India after Karthikeyan hit the tracks on the back of Indian sponsorship reportedly worth 10 million dollars.
The 29-year-old did not race in 2006 but is signed up with Williams as a test driver.
Millions of Indians watch Formula One on television, often with the same passion they reserve for the country's most popular sport -- cricket.
There was no immediate reaction to the announcement from federal sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who has opposed the holding of expensive international sporting events in the country.
Aiyer, a former diplomat and ex-foreign ministry spokesman, had described the Asian Games bid as nothing more than a misguided attempt to improve the global image of the country.
The Indian media were sceptical about the prospect of holding a race in New Delhi.
"The capital is no place to have a F1 race because it does not have a culture for motor sports," said Sharda Ugra, sports editor of the respected India Today weekly.
"Places in south India like Bangalore or Chennai, where Karthikeyan and other drivers hail from, would have been better venues.
"It's more a business decision than a sporting one. The construction lobby will have a good time."
Source: Yahoo News
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1 comment:
Do you really think that the deal is sealed? There is nothing that I have read that leeds me to beleive that there will definitly be a race in Delhi in 2009. Yes, India is on the map, but much needs to be done before a race is scheduled here. If there is a race in Delhi in '09, I'll surely be there, gladly eating my words.
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