Originally posted by LazerLordz:
I'd be happy enough. Can't people stop shopping for one weekend?
That's taking it far too simply. The TS is right...there are lots of implications, not all of which are good.
As they say in construction, safety first. To have an F1 race at night on our streets, there will be various modifications required to light up the track further. Our public roads are not designed for vehicles driving at those speeds at night
without headlights. Roads will have to be re-surfaced, additional street lights installed. The amount of disruption to traffic will be considerable, weeks or months before the race.
There will need to be construction of viewing galleries and infrastructure required for the race, which will involve road closures and diversions.
Third, there will be the environmental impact, the noise and light pollution which will impact all residents close to the race track, irregardless of whether they are fans of the race.
There is also the possible long-term adverse effect of encouraging young people to emulate such races. I expect there will be more illegal street races and so more police resources will have to be deployed to prevent that.
As a recreation, it is an exclusive activity available only to the select few who can afford it. As a sport, it does not improve aerobic fitness and there are many better and healthier alternatives. A champion F1 racer is no more likely to pass the IPPT than one who takes up jogging. For the environment, it has a detrimental impact and probably the last thing we would want to introduce to Singapore at a time when we are going into green technology.
There is only one reason for bringing it in. It has the potential to earn millions for Singapore through an event that just lasts a week and there are long term benefits for the tourism industry. I am not a fan of F1 and would oppose this activity but for that one reason....it's good for the economy.
The government is considering the costs and benefits. If it can bring in hundreds of millions of dollars as events in other nations do, then I will support this event in Singapore. The adverse impact are mostly short-term and if the returns are as good as they are reported to be, then it is worth it.