Well, in a way! Not more than a few days ago, the Sports Ministry of India had this to say,
The proposed F1 race does not satisfy conditions which focus on human endeavor for excelling in competition with others, keeping in view the whole sports movement from Olympics downwards.
With Force India having the best result in their F1 career, I think it may be time to reconsider. Now first of all, I am not saying that it’s a victory for India. Vijay Mallya may own the team, but when Chelsea won the Premier League, it wasn’t a victory for Russia. So, my point here is make people realize that we have to make hay while the sun shines.
A sport is defined, by the Oxford dictionary, as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others”. Now how does Formula One not fall under this definition of sport. Who does the Ministry think they are trying to fool? “Physical exertion” and “skill”, don’t these phrases connect with F1? And commercial interests; tell me who does not have them. But with that if you have the ability to ignite something that needs just a small spark, why stop it? I would like the Ministry to make public the “conditions” which are required to call a sport a sport. Let’s get them out and then let them ponder in the stupidity of their statement. Let us understand what the “Sports” Ministry wants to call sports.
The Ministry wants to focus on human endeavor for excelling competition with others. What does that even mean? What are they trying to tell us? And how does F1 not constitute a part of this. What I do not understand is why the Ministry is shying away from making some money it needs. I am not going to sit idly and agree that the IPL was a “human endeavor for excelling in competition with others”. Yes, the BCCI had not asked for money from the Ministry for it, but then, it is clear to everyone that IPL has not a lot to do with competition and the Ministry’s definition of sport. It was so much to do with money. There they are, those players and organizers, stuffing their pockets with cash. Don’t tell me they were doing it for the game. What is Twenty20 but another way to pull in people to watch, and in turn, make money.
And calling Formula 1 entertainment is simply a joke. Take IPL again for example. That wasn’t entertainment, with the fireworks and the cheerleaders? Songs being played after every over, wicket and boundary? Call that pure sport and I give up. Then there would be no use even mentioning my agitation at the Ministry’s position on Formula 1. Just because you don’t understand it, does not mean it is not what it is.
Now getting back to my point about making hay while the sun shines. There is a huge following for F1 in India. I know that, you know that. It figures, when it has been more than 10 years that it is being broadcast live on TV. We have even played the Fantasy game with extreme passion, postponing parties to coincide with races. The next thing to happen should surely be a race that is to be held in India. By supporting this idea, the Ministry is only in a win-win situation. It complains that the technology is far ahead of that in India. Well, that’s the case for most of the world. How many people around the world can afford a car with paddle shifters, a transmission that can shift in micro-seconds? What car is completely made of carbon fiber and can stop like it hit a wall? And this excuse is even stupider than it sounds; won’t it seem a waste of time to see a car go round and round in the same car you may drive everyday to work? With the following for F1 that India has, and with the new technology on hand, and with the chance of making some money, why does the Ministry have to make excuses. Mr. Gill has decided to stand by his statement. I would like to remind him that there is a fine line between being firm and being stubborn. We’ve had a driver driving an F1 car, a billionaire who now owns one and is the team principal. Now what remains is a race in India.
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