F1 is here.
The first F1 night race is going to happen right in the Singapore CBD area. Fences have been set up, roads relaid, powerful floodlights installed and grandstands erected. The cars have already reached Singapore, so has the entire support crew and the drivers.
The government has said that the holding of such world class events like the F1 race will be a boost to Singapore's tourism industry and millions of viewers all over the world will get to see the wonderful sights of Singapore on their TV and hopefully they will be attracted to come in the future.
But I have read reports in the papers of Singaporeans complaining about all the road closures and leading to terrible jams in certain roads. Shopping malls in the Marina Bay area like Suntec City seems to be hit hard. Some shop owners have commented that their business takings has dipped, partly due to the inaccessibility of the area due to the road closures.
Strangely though, I think most Singaporeans do not feel as hyped up, especially the heartlanders. Firstly F1 is quite an exclusive sport, their tickets cost a bomb and there isnt much of a racing culture in Singapore. You can either love F1 to the core or think that it is just stupid watching cars going round and roung for 61 laps.
I think more can be done to involve more Singaporeans in the race. There shoud be more publicity on the TV too. Maybe they should try to involve some of the schools, especially the ites, polytechnics and universities. Perhaps carnivals should be held in the heartlands and try to get everyone involved from the corporate companies, grassroots organizations, the heartlanders. There can also be some kind of charity drives and proceeds going towards the less forunate. It will be a great gesture if the organisers, hotels and those who benefited from F1 come together and give out a sum to help the less forunate in our society.
I just feel sad that what a waste it was as the F1 race could be a great way to involve the whole nation and bind our nation together and but yet for now it seems like an event only for the rich and the tourists.
les
The government has said that the holding of such world class events like the F1 race will be a boost to Singapore's tourism industry and millions of viewers all over the world will get to see the wonderful sights of Singapore on their TV and hopefully they will be attracted to come in the future.
But I have read reports in the papers of Singaporeans complaining about all the road closures and leading to terrible jams in certain roads. Shopping malls in the Marina Bay area like Suntec City seems to be hit hard. Some shop owners have commented that their business takings has dipped, partly due to the inaccessibility of the area due to the road closures.
Strangely though, I think most Singaporeans do not feel as hyped up, especially the heartlanders. Firstly F1 is quite an exclusive sport, their tickets cost a bomb and there isnt much of a racing culture in Singapore. You can either love F1 to the core or think that it is just stupid watching cars going round and roung for 61 laps.
I think more can be done to involve more Singaporeans in the race. There shoud be more publicity on the TV too. Maybe they should try to involve some of the schools, especially the ites, polytechnics and universities. Perhaps carnivals should be held in the heartlands and try to get everyone involved from the corporate companies, grassroots organizations, the heartlanders. There can also be some kind of charity drives and proceeds going towards the less forunate. It will be a great gesture if the organisers, hotels and those who benefited from F1 come together and give out a sum to help the less forunate in our society.
I just feel sad that what a waste it was as the F1 race could be a great way to involve the whole nation and bind our nation together and but yet for now it seems like an event only for the rich and the tourists.
les
posted by yaogui at
11:37 AM
