Formula One is not a sport says sports ministry.

[fordperfect]

Formula One is not a sport, says Sports ministry - Top Stories - Racing - SPORTS - The Times of India

Formula One is not a sport, says sports ministry
Alok Sinha, TNN 25 August 2009, 12:28am IST
NEW DELHI: It's a letter which is likely to create a huge debate in sports circles and rattle the motorsports fraternity.

According to sources, the ministry of sports in January 2009 wrote to JPSK Sports, the promoters of Formula One in the country, that their request for getting approval for remittance of $36.5 million (about Rs 177 crore) to be paid to Formula One Administration (UK) for holding an F1 race in India had been rejected on the grounds that "it (the race) would have no impact on the development of sports in the country".

JPSK had first gone to the Reserve Bank of India, which asked them to get the ministry's approval.

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, ministry sources said.

"F1 is not purely sports. It is entertainment and this venture by JKSP is a commercial initiative," said a ministry source. In fact, the letter states that F1 will not have an impact on Indian sports "in terms of either participation, broad-basing or promotion of excellence".

"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," said the source.

Sameer Gaur, MD, JPSK confirmed to TOI that their request had been rejected by the sports ministry.

[Nikhilb2008]

God bless India! India Shining.

[blacmagic]

utter nonsense! if this logic is applied faithfully, the BCCI should be sent packing before anything else.

[sgiitk]

Maybe they think it is a tamasha (spectacle). It did look like that for quite some time this year!

[myavu]

When are we going to get some one with little sense in our ministry?

So it means, China, Bahrain, Abhudabi, etc are not making anything out of F1?

The recent Singapore night race is a joke?

OH GOD I am fed up. It's been a long time hearing about India F1 GP. Earlier 2009, then 2010, then 2011, then???

This is ridiculous

[Shan2nu]

Why is India after F1 so much? Why can't they try n get WRC here.

Afterall, we've got the largest collection of rally roads. And the government will have a good reason not to pave them. LOL

Shan2nu

[s.prashanth]

If it is so, so are boat racing and above all Horse racing, Chess

[theMAG]

Bollocks. I would like to see some shining examples of "regular sports" development in the country other than cricket - which developed by its own.

[Aditya]

These ministers should be put through the fitness regime that racing drivers go through. Then put them in a racing car and let's see how long they are able to take the pressure and stress.

[prince_pervez]

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Why is India after F1 so much? Why can't they try n get WRC here.

Afterall, we've got the largest collection of rally roads. And the government will have a good reason not to pave them. LOL

Shan2nu

He hehe that was frekking hilarious. Made my day.

[condor]

Stop Cricket, I say. It's just one big tamasha now.

[madan80]

ask them to name the sports that we have, and im sure the list wont go beyond cricket! its the one sport thats killed ALL the other sports in the country.

[finneyp]

What is Cricket then?

With the advent of 20-20 & IPL, it is less of a sport, more of entertainment & played purely for commercial interests!

[greenh0rn]

Guys please understand where the ministry is coming from. They define a sport as such when many people can participate in it. And just how many people get to race a F1 car? Even Cricket for argument sake can be easily played by anyone who is keen to play - you don't need a stadium (think gully cricket), fancy/expensive equipment (anything resembling a bat and ball will do) etc. For that matter, take any regular, normal sport, even rally sport for an extreme case. Many people can rally their car, but just how many can race a F1 car? At the end of the day, F1 is a spectator sport at best, not a sport in the true sense of the word.

Having said that, the ministry, after all, exists for the promotion of all sports. They could easily leverage F1's charisma and appeal to earn enough to be able to spend on other sports.

[Roy.S]

Originally Posted by fordperfect

....had been rejected on the grounds that "it (the race) would have no impact on the development of sports in the country".....

It is in fact the sports ministry that has no impact on the development of sports in the country.