Newsgroup: it.sport.formula1.moderato
Titolo: [ENG] Why Canada is out

Source: 
grandprix.com
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns11622.html
The Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled because of Canadian
government ban on tobacco advertising. Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone,
who at Hockenheim last weekend denied that the race was off, has sent a
letter to race promoter Normand Legault saying that the race will not be
on the 2004 calendar because of the new Canadian regulations which
prohibit sponsorship of sports events by tobacco companies.
Legault said that the decision was not a surprise.
"I'm not throwing in the towel right away,'' he said. "If there is not a
race in 2004, maybe it'll be in 2005.''
The loss of the race will be a big blow to Montreal's tourist trade as it
is the country's biggest sporting event each year and it brings in around
$40m a year of direct income to the city.
But the cancellation of the Canadian Grand Prix may not be entirely
related to tobacco issues because the new Canadian law is not excessive
when compared to some of those already in force in Europe. In Germany for
example F1 cars run without tobacco logos and no-one complains. The race,
however, does have a problem of funding because important work needs to
be done but there is no money available to do it. The cancellation of the
event may, therefore, be more about getting the local government to pay
for the race rather than about tobacco.
And there is good reason why Montreal should pay as the city gains
massively from the event, during which hotel prices in the city multiply
and huge amounts of business are done in the main shopping areas. It is
for many retailers one of the busiest weeks of the year and the loss of
the event will have serious effects on the local economy.
The cancellation of the race may be an attempt to force the Canadian
government to vote through an amendment to the law but even if that is
now achieved a new contract will be needed and, as Belgium has just
discovered, dropping out of the World Championship is an expensive thing
to do because any new deal will involve the need for a larger fee and
other commitments from the local authorities.
The Canadian race has been struggling financially in recent years and
this year lost backing from Air Canada. Legault has become more involved
in working with Bernie Ecclestone on other matters in North America.
"We recognise that there will be an important impact on Montreal's
economy but we also have an obligation to protect the health of
Canadians," said Farah Mohamed, a spokesman for Canadian health minister
Anne McLellan. "We feel very strongly about our legislation."
If that is the case and Canada is not willing to give way, one of the
most popular events on the F1 calendar will disappear. The fans who visit
will no doubt decide to go to Indianapolis instead and that can help to
build up interest for Formula 1 in the US in the years ahead.
There are still rumours that Ecclestone is planning for a second United
States Grand Prix in San Francisco in three or four years and getting rid
of Canada may be part of the plan.
We will find out if Legault one day ends up running a Grand Prix in San
Francisco...
Copyright 1988-2003, Inside F1, Inc.
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 complains. The race, however, does have a problem of funding because
Non è tanto vero, nel senso che una volta era così, ma ora in Germania
gli sponsor del fumo sono visibili (basta guardare AS di questa
settimana). Mi pare che la restrizione sia rimasta in Francia e Gran
Bretagna, e che Ecclestone abbia detto che oltre non si può andare come
gare senza sponsor del tabacco, ed era il motivo per cui avevano
rifiutato di correre a Spa. Strano che oggi più di due l'anno "senza
fumo" non si possa fare, mentre qualche anno fa erano decisamente più
numerosi....
Che poi non sia l'unico motivo ne il principale è un altro discorso,
molto probabile.
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