There is some interesting news today from Quebec City where the International Olympic Committee’s executive has been whittling down the host cities for the 2020 Olympic Games. Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid are still in the running, but Doha and Baku are out of the running. Both had previously been rejected for the 2016 Games as well, which means that both will probably be looking for alternative sporting events in the future. A lot of F1 people have been trying to get money out of Qatar for years and have been told that the available cash was being reserved for the Games. A large amount of cash has also been sunk into preparations for the soccer World Cup, which is due to take place in 2022. This will see the construction of no fewer than five stadia. With Doha knocked out of the running for the Olympics, it may be that interest will be revived in getting involved in Formula 1. Having said that Doha chief executive is saying that Qatar has not given up.
“This is a great disappointment for the Doha team,” said Noora Al Mannai, chief executive of the Doha bid company. “With so many sports venues already in place and budgeted for, we felt that we offered the IOC great certainty and a low cost Games plan as well as an exciting legacy vision, especially around developing women’s sport in the Middle East. However for Doha, it will always be a question of when not if.”
However with the next available Games being in 2024, there is a 12-year period in which Formula 1 could have a solid present and help to promote Qatar as an international centre.
At the same time, the election results in the Dominican Republic means that Danilo Medina will become the new President of the country on August 16, having won 51 percent of the votes, compared to 47 percent of the opposition candidate Hipolito Mejia. Medina will succeed Leonel Fernandez, who was barred from running again after serving two consecutive four-year terms. Medina is behind the idea of creating a Grand Prix in the Dominican Republic, and is also expected to encourage support for driver Benjamin Breny. The 23-year-old has been based in Belgium for some time and after karting tried his hand at Formula Renault in 2010 and has since tested a Spanish Formula 3. He is being coached by former F1 driver Roberto Moreno. The youngster has discussed a drive for HRT with the F1 young driver test, although this will be dependent on him being able to find the funding needed.
joeblogsf1 
theres always 2024, 2028, 2032 and 2036. And if they decided to chuck enough money at it they could probably build a full replica of a ski resort and have a crack at bidding for the winter olympics.
I do wonder when the bubble will burst
For now tourists are happy to flock to Abu Dhabi for a a grand prix for a spectacle much worse than Donnington/Valencia Ricardo Tomo Circuit/Phillip Island
(What kind of muppet builds a brand new circuit with near unlimited funds where the grandstand spectators can hardly see 2 corners of action… oh thats right Herman Tilke….)
Likewise with the world cup bid – really impressive stadiums – but will they be any better than any old paddock in the mother country suited to playing football?
If tourists finally realise that the place is a hot shithole – and the oil runs out – will it become a desert version of Detroit- and become a sand ghost town?
Liked this one Paul – not sure why because I do like going to these places.
It’s probably because there’s more than a hint of truth in what you say.
Brackets in para 2 did make me laugh though.
Why Bernie doesn’t use the property development company that laid out the new Silverstone circuit I’ll never know. (Dooooh ! Yes I do).
BUT – What a brilliant circuit and what great viewing for such a long track length.
Those dumb amateur idiots actually kept it high speed, gave it lots of overtaking spots and introduced some really tech corners.
Huh, what do they know, best stick witht Rollerball Tilke.
3 separate races in the Gulf region? What is all that about??!!!
Agreed!
Suntans I guess – and mopping up the money while it lasts
Perhaps this Noora Al Mannai guy is doing things wrong???
I seem to recall that bribing and hiring hookers for the IOC members helped Salt Lake big time in their Olympic bid. And they were a pack of Book of Mormon thumping Mormons, so no religious cop outs please. I believe “Damn, you Mormons sure can party!” was heard numerous times at their IOC member gala. 😆
Not everybody wants the Olympics! Here in the UK we have several long established businesses forced to change their names under US style heavy handed litigation threats. Yesterday an old lady who knits dolls was leant on because she had very cleverly knitted a doll with the olympic rings on its chest. she has been told to take the rings off, obviously an impossibility.
The Cafe Olympic at 61 West Ham Lane Stratford is now the “Cafe lympic ” and has increased its business after being in the news for being told to change it’s name. http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/newham-life/organisations/olympic_could_cost_cafe_owner_3_000_1_803096. And http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/dont-mess-with-the-olympic-brand/article2439754/.
Residents of London will be paying for the Olympics for many years, the costs of construction (and profit) of course ran vastly over budget. I doubt they will see any of the supposed millions that the olympics will bring in. (Mind, I hope the Cafe lympic does well. ) Why cannot public works be properly quoted for (instead of estimated) and penalty clauses imposed instead of a “well just help yourself to as much as you can carry” method which seems to be employed.
Oh, but I’m sure the Olympics will be a financial bonanza for everyone in London and for most folks elsewhere in the UK. Surely they have reports that say so, complete with officious-looking tables that are chock full of Actual Numbers.
What is the name for the category of business that prepares such things? They do Olympics, they tell American cities what a bargain it is to build new stadia on the taxpayers dime so rich team owners don’t pay anything at all, and they also report on what a bargain Bernie’s ransom for an F1 race is. Surely this little sub-industry has a respectable-sounding name, I just don’t know what it is. Numbers For Rent? Midas Consulting? There’s One Born Every Minute? Ocean Front Land in Nebraska?
Whatever they’re called, I expect Karen has them on speed-dial… surely she can help us find them 😉
Well the main difference between the original London Olympic budgets and the current situation is that the government chucked a bunch more requirements into the mix after London won the bid. That’s nothing to do with those who created the original estimate, and is often the reason for cost growth in public sector projects.
Whether or not the additional work (generally focussed on regeneration of the areas around the Olympic site and legacy around the country), is worthwhile or not is another debate.
The reason costs are estimated not quoted is simply that it is very, very expensive to get a quote that anyone will stand by, particularly at that very early stage when there are so many uncertainties. There’s a limit to how much money you should throw at a bid that you may very well not win. Better to estimate, but the trick is to allow a suitable contingency for all the things you don’t know about.
What after Dominican Republic? a GP in Haiti?
The Olympics make hosting an F1 race look like good value. I’m sure the Greek citizens would agree.
As a Canadian, there are many valid reasons why I would want to have a vacation in the DR. And to tell you the turth, they are the extact same reasons why I would want to have a vacation in Cuba or Cancun. However, as a tourist there are more (histroical and Cultural) reasons for me to visit Cancun in Mexico than the DR, don’t you thinK?
And yet the Mexican Grand Prix that was held in near Mexico City is off the Calendar, and I do recall a while back some talks about a GP around Cancun what happened there?
If Cancun can not get a GP, DR’s chances look pretty slim indeed….Your thoughts,please Joe?
you seem to have a spirit consisted of pure prejudice.
considering the presence of South and Central America countries in F1 history, with so many excellent drivers and numerous Grands Prix, what is the question with a new race in a Caribbean country?
no wonder Canadian protesters labels, negatively, the F1 race as elitist, – of course to their interest of revolt – only an elitistic mind can allow for such equivocated, ignorant thought.
even worse if an assertion like that says a lot about the nature of F1 culture.
What a lot of crap.
(please note, the comment above meant as a reply to Alec ‘questioning’, posted in wrong place)
That does make a world of difference. (Really, no kidding.)