According to a report in the Times of India, today the Government of India has rejected the request for transfer of remittance fee to Formula One Management for the conduct of the race by JKSP, saying “F1 is not purely sports. It is entertainment and this venture by JKSP is a commercial initiative,”
Now that leaves us far behind in terms of appreciating the value that F1 has been able to do commercially otherwise. Lets forget the politics and the insane things about the sport, but what I am not able to understand is the idea that the so called enlightened men in the sports ministry have.
As if they have been doing yeomen service to other sports without politics involved they have taken a moral stand. I quote “The proposed F1 race does not satisfy conditions which focus on human endeavour for excelling in competition with others, keeping in view the whole sports movement from Olympics downwards.”
Now that leaves us with a big question mark. We don’t yet know what will happen to an F1 dream that India will always have. This puts a larger question in terms of doing business in India. Even if it was a commercial venture and that someone is willing to do it what right has the Government got to stop something which is private if they want to call it that.
Add to this “The basic premise of the ministry is that F1 is not needed in India and the money can be spent on development of disciplines which have a wider base in the country.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry over this. Lets see how they build up other games.
PS: JKSP still thinks it can pull off a coup with the Sports ministry, here is their version.
